New opportunities in HIV prevention

Five residents of the Lviv region became participants of a new method of HIV prevention - a revolutionary long-acting injectable drug cabotegravir (CAB-LA), recommended by the WHO, which provides two months of protection against HIV for its users.

In particular, August 23, 2024 - In the Lviv Oblast, an innovative method of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) using the long-acting injectable drug cabotegravir (CAB-LA) has been introduced at the outpatient department for the treatment of HIV positive / AIDS patients of the Lung Health Center. This drug provides one of the most reliable protections against HIV infection through sexual contact (pre-exposure prophylaxis).

One of the program participants, Mr. Yuriy, said:

“I chose injectable pre-exposure prophylaxis as a method of HIV prevention because it is effective and lasts for a long time... I am calm.”

Ukraine was the first country in the Eastern Europe and Central Asia region to receive the most advanced drug for pre-exposure prophylaxis of HIV infection.

About the drug: Cabotegravir long-acting (CAB-LA, long-acting injectable cabotegravir) is a long-acting injectable drug of the class of integrase transferase inhibitors (a class of antiretroviral drugs). An injectable drug that is not a vaccine, but a medicine that works by blocking an enzyme necessary for HIV replication. PrEP prevents HIV from entering the human body and accumulating. Thus, a person is protected from HIV infection due to the high level of PrEP.

CAB-LA is indicated for adults to reduce the risk of sexual transmission of HIV-1. It is administered intramuscularly as two initial doses four weeks apart, followed by maintenance injections every eight weeks. This provides long-term protection without daily pill taking.

The injectable drug is being provided to patients with PEPFAR support and in stages: the first batch of CAB-LA in the amount of 1,350 vials, which corresponds to almost 200 annual courses, has already been transferred to two healthcare institutions in Ukraine (in Kyiv and Lviv) from the state institution “Center for Public Health of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine” as the implementers of this project.

Pilot project: CAB-LA is being implemented as part of international cooperation under the PEPFAR program and the manufacturer ViiV Healthcare, organized by the state institution “Center for Public Health of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine” in partnership with the PEPFAR coordinating office, CDC, USAID, WHO, ICF “Alliance for Public Health”, and NGO “ALLIANCE.GLOBAL”.

The first two patients in Ukraine (on August 15, 2024) in Kyiv (at the City Clinical Hospital No. 5) have already received an innovative drug to prevent infection with the human immunodeficiency virus.

Advantages:

-Highly effective: 99% protection against HIV infection through sexual contact.

-Convenience: injections every eight weeks instead of daily pills.

-Free of charge: the drug is provided free of charge to people at high risk of HIV infection;

-This form of PrEP is safe and comfortable for patients.

The introduction of CAB-LA is an important step in the development of the pre-exposure prophylaxis system in Ukraine. In the context of war and constant population displacement, this drug will become a convenient alternative, providing reliable protection for those who need it.

If you are interested in getting more information about HIV prevention, if you self-assess your own risky behavior or if you consider it to be at high risk of HIV infection, you can call the HIV/AIDS hotline at 0-800-500-451 or visit (and receive PrEP, including available injectable cabotegravir) the outpatient department for the treatment of HIV-positive/AIDS patients of the Center for Lung Health at м. Lviv, 45 Mykola Lysenko St.