Cabotegravir injections given every eight weeks were found to be more effective in studies than daily pills for preventing HIV, although they are not a cure.
HIV injection study
HIV is a disease that weakens the body's ability to fight disease. Various preventive measures are taken to prevent it. People at high risk of HIV infection are given certain medications before infection to help protect against the virus. Until now, the most common method for this was a daily pill. However, a study has now found an injection administered every eight weeks to be more effective in preventing HIV than a daily pill. However, it is important to understand that this injection does not cure HIV, but rather is used to prevent it.
This injection is given every 8 weeks.
This injection is called cabotegravir. It is used to prevent HIV. Its special feature is that it does not need to be taken daily. It is administered approximately every 8 weeks. When taking a pill daily, people can sometimes miss a day or fail to take it on time. In such cases, this long-acting injection can be an alternative option. However, the decision regarding when and who should be administered it is made only in consultation with a doctor.
Study found it more effective than the pill
A large study was conducted on this injection, involving 4,566 people. One group received an injection of cabotegravir every eight weeks, while the other group received a daily HIV-preventive pill. During the study, 13 people in the injection group developed HIV infection, while 39 people in the pill group became infected. Based on this, researchers concluded that the injection was more effective in preventing HIV than the daily pill.
The study was also done on women.
A separate study was also conducted on women regarding this injection, involving 3,224 women. Four cases of HIV infection were reported among women who received the injection every eight weeks, compared to 36 cases in the daily pill group. This study also found cabotegravir to be effective in preventing HIV. This raises hopes that a long-acting injection may be an alternative to daily pills for those at risk of HIV infection.
Is this a cure for HIV?
It's important to understand one thing here. This injection isn't meant to cure someone infected with HIV. It's used to prevent HIV. This means that if a person doesn't have HIV but is at risk of becoming infected, this injection can be given for prevention, as advised by a doctor. If a person already has HIV, different medications are needed for treatment. Therefore, it wouldn't be correct to consider this injection a cure for HIV.
A doctor's advice is necessary before taking the injection.
Studies have shown positive results with this injection, but that doesn't mean everyone can get it at will. Before taking it, it's important to determine whether the person is infected with HIV and whether this method of protection is right for them. It's also important to get the injection on time, as delaying the next dose can reduce the effectiveness of the protection. Therefore, it's important to consult a doctor before taking this type of medication or injection to prevent HIV.
