Researchers record positive results in first stages of HIV Injectable drug trial

By Ben Musanje

31^st Oct 2022

Researchers have disclosed positive results from the ongoing clinical trial of the injectable HIV treatment drug known as Cabotegravir Long Acting (CAB-LA).

The study is conducted in four districts of Mityana, Masaka, Hoima and Kalangala and is expected to last for a period of six years with the aim of establishing the effectiveness of a new HIV drug.

The drug is being fronted as the best option in the treatment and prevention of HIV under the Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP).

PrEP is a treatment that can reduce someone’s chances of getting HIV in the early stages of exposure and the trial is likely to end pill fatigue, fight stigma, improve adherence and ensure patients get the right dosage.

The injection which has also been trailed as treatment among the HIV positive volunteers who are young women and adolescent girls will have to take a daily pill of an equally new drug, Descovy which was only approved for use internationally as a Pre Exposure Prophylaxis-PrEP recently.

During a media cafe on Zoom, Dr. Flavia Kiweewa a Senior Research Scientist from the Makerere University -Johns Hopkins University (MUJHU) said that only 52 infections have been recorded from a thousand participants enrolled for an injectable PrEP clinical trial.

She says that this number is fewer than the 352 infections recorded in the research carried out in the USA.

Dr Kiweewa says that among the infections, 38 were from the Truvada category while 13 were from the injectable Cabotegravir which means that Cabotegravir was more effective.

The Preventive Care International Executive Director, Charles Brown says they have already developed an application dubbed PrEP Uganda which acts as a one-stop centre for information on HIV prevention and treatment.

He adds that PrEP Uganda App which was initially unveiled in 2018 has the locations of all the 350 health facilities where free PrEP services are provided in the country and also provide information about HIV self-testing, injectable PrEP, Gender Based Violence –GBV and HIV treatment adherence among others.

The International Community of Women Living with HIV East Africa –ICWEA Ruth Akulu called for an improved accessibility of PrEP services in both the government and private health centers in the country.

According to the Uganda Aids Commission, the country has 1.4 million people living with HIV/AIDS with only the pill currently available to manage the scourge and this injectable drug may come as a relief for people living with HIV/AIDS.