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Game-changing HIV vaccine approved in England and Wales

2025-10-17 10:14:00, Shëndeti CNA

An injection to prevent HIV will be offered to patients on the NHS in England and Wales for the first time, bringing the policy in line with that of Scotland.

The long-acting injection, given six times a year or every two months, is an alternative to taking daily pills to protect against the virus.

Experts hope that cabotegravir (CAB-LA) injections will help meet the ambition to end new HIV cases by 2030 in the UK.

Meanwhile, early results for another injection called lenacapavir suggest it may be possible for people to start an annual vaccine for HIV prevention.

Wes Streeting, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, said: “The approval of this revolutionary injection perfectly embodies this government’s determination to deliver cutting-edge treatments that save lives and leave no one behind.”

"For vulnerable people who are unable to follow other HIV prevention methods, this represents hope."

HIV preventive therapy, known as PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis), is taken by HIV-negative people to reduce the risk of HIV infection.

The pills have been available for years and are still extremely effective at stopping HIV infections, but they are not always easy for some people to take.

It may be difficult to access, impractical, or make you feel embarrassed. For example, people may worry that someone like their parents or housemates might find their medication.

Lack of housing and domestic violence can make it difficult to take oral PrEP every day.

An injection that lasts for months offers convenience and discretion.

HIV is a virus that damages cells in the immune system and weakens the body's ability to fight infections and everyday illnesses.

It can be transmitted through unprotected sex or through sharing needles. Mothers can also pass it on to their babies during childbirth.

Cabotegravir, manufactured by ViiV Healthcare, should be used in combination with safer sex practices, such as using condoms.

The NHS has an undisclosed discount from the manufacturer for the treatment which has a list price of around £7,000 per patient per year.

The vaccine will be considered for adults and adolescents of a healthy weight who are at high risk of sexually transmitted HIV and eligible for PrEP, but for whom taking oral tablets would be difficult. It is thought that about 1,000 people will be offered it.

They will be able to get it from sexual health clinics operated by the NHS in the coming months, says the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).

Charities say some people face long waiting times for appointments at clinics and distribution needs to happen quickly.

Richard Angell, of the Terrence Higgins Trust, said it was time to explore providing transformative therapy in other settings, not just sexual health clinics.

"It is highly effective and acceptable to patients, as well as a vital tool to address disparities with the potential to reach those who currently do not have access to other HIV prevention tools."

Official figures for England show that the number of people receiving PrEP in sexual health services is increasing.

Last year, 146,098 HIV-negative people accessing sexual health services needed PrEP because they were at significant risk of becoming infected with HIV.

Of these, about 76% (111,123) started or continued PrEP - an increase of 7.7% from 2023.

However, the need for PrEP is not being identified and met equitably.

Access to treatment varies significantly by group, with the highest rates of involvement among white (79.4%) and ethnic minority (77.8%) gay, bisexual and all men who have sex with men, but much lower among heterosexual black African women (34.6%) and men (36.4%).

At the same time, HIV testing has been expanded to all hospital emergency departments in England. Currently, 89 of them routinely test everyone who has blood drawn, particularly in cities and towns with high HIV prevalence./ CNA