All articles tagged with #prep
PrEP could end HIV in the United States, but access remains uneven due to insurance gaps, provider knowledge gaps, stigma, and racial/geographic disparities; telemedicine and long-acting injections are expanding reach, but affordability and policy changes—like funding cuts to HIV prevention—could threaten progress.
Doctors Without Borders (MSF) is pressing Gilead to directly sell lenacapavir, a two-a-year injectable PrEP for HIV prevention, to MSF for use in its humanitarian programs. Gilead has refused, directing MSF to obtain doses through the Global Fund, which has a limited supply, leaving many vulnerable people without access. MSF cites humanitarian need and calls for an urgent meeting by April 13 to decide pricing and delivery timelines.
Zimbabwe launched a national lenacapavir program, a twice-yearly injectable HIV prevention treatment that could replace daily PrEP pills. Funded by the U.S. government and the Global Fund, the initial rollout covers about 46,000 high-risk individuals across 24 sites, with priority for adolescent girls, young women and sex workers, as part of the country’s broader effort to curb HIV.
US funding for South Africa’s HIV response has been cut, risking about $400m a year and threatening testing, treatment and prevention services. SA offered emergency funds and a bridge plan, but experts warn gaps could raise new infections if mobile clinics and data systems shut down. Rollouts like Lenacapavir and CAB-LA depend on sustained funding, and the government is seeking additional support from the Global Fund and other donors as Washington signals a permanent shift to 'America First Global Health Strategy'.
A major winter snowstorm is forecast for Boston and Massachusetts, and authorities recommend four prep steps: enable and monitor emergency alerts, assemble a winter emergency kit (water, medications, non-perishable food, batteries, basic tools) and fully charge devices, prepare the home (sprinkle snow melt on stairs, clear roofs and branches, gutters, ensure detectors work, service the snow blower), and ready the vehicle (full gas tank, good wiper blades, a winter survival kit).
Campaigners in Northern Ireland are advocating for the introduction of cabotegravir injections, a long-acting HIV prevention drug, to help meet the goal of ending new HIV cases by 2030, with the drug already being adopted in England, Wales, and Scotland as an alternative to daily PrEP pills.
The UK has approved a long-acting HIV prevention injection, cabotegravir, for NHS use in England and Wales, offering a discreet alternative to daily pills and aiming to help end new HIV cases by 2030. The injection, suitable for high-risk individuals who find daily pills challenging, is expected to be available soon, with ongoing research into even less frequent dosing options like annual injections. The rollout aims to improve access and reduce inequalities in HIV prevention.
A new drug called lenacapavir, approved for HIV prevention, offers a twice-yearly injection with near-vaccine efficacy, potentially transforming HIV prevention efforts worldwide, especially in low-income countries, but its impact will depend heavily on political and logistical factors.
The CDC strongly recommends the use of injectable lenacapavir, administered every 6 months, as an effective and safe option for HIV preexposure prophylaxis in persons weighing at least 35 kg, based on high-certainty evidence from clinical trials showing near 100% efficacy in preventing HIV infection.
Couples with different HIV statuses in Kenya face increased challenges due to U.S. foreign aid cuts, which have led to shortages of condoms and PrEP, essential for preventing HIV transmission, creating uncertainty and risks for their health and future.
WHO recommends offering long-acting injectable lenacapavir (LEN) as an additional HIV prevention option, administered twice a year, to increase PrEP uptake and effectiveness. The guideline emphasizes using rapid diagnostic tests for individuals on injectable PrEP like LEN and cabotegravir, promoting flexible testing approaches to ensure access and continuation of PrEP, and highlights the need for further research, including HIV self-testing for long-acting injectable PrEP.
The WHO has recommended injectable lenacapavir, administered twice a year, as a new PrEP option for HIV prevention, aiming to improve adherence and expand prevention strategies globally. The guidelines also include simplified testing procedures and integration of HIV services with broader health care, emphasizing immediate implementation to combat stagnating HIV prevention efforts amid ongoing challenges.
The U.S. Supreme Court upheld a key provision of the Affordable Care Act, ensuring that around 150 million Americans will continue to receive free preventive services, including HIV prevention drugs, by ruling that the appointment process for the preventive services task force was constitutional. This decision protects existing preventive coverage and prevents potential increases in out-of-pocket costs for essential health services.
A new FDA-approved long-acting injectable drug called Yestugo offers up to six months of HIV protection, providing an alternative to daily pills but not preventing other STIs. Experts emphasize that it should complement, not replace, comprehensive sexual health practices like condom use, especially as STI rates, such as genital discharge syndromes, continue to rise in Jamaica. The medication is expected to improve adherence for those struggling with daily regimens, but awareness of its limitations remains crucial.
A new twice-yearly HIV prevention shot called Yeztugo has been approved by the FDA, offering a potentially more effective and easier alternative to daily pills for at-risk individuals, though concerns about cost and accessibility remain.