UNAIDS Executive Director, Winnie Byanyima has revealed that the people most in need of new HIV prevention medication, in the form of a long-acting injection are adolescent girls, LGBTQ+ people, sex workers, and people who use drugs.
Byanyima noted that the injection medication will transform the lives of people who struggle to take daily pills.
“The option of an injection that only needs to be taken once every few months is vital for people who face stigma when seen with pills, and those who are driven underground by criminalizing laws,” she said.
She added that the arrival of long-acting injections is truly a game-changer and it can help prevent millions of new HIV infections. However, this will only happen if everyone who would benefit has access. Noting, “When medicines are lifesaving, delays are fatal.”
Byanyima made the revelation while responding to ViiV Company after its commitment to produce at least two million doses of long-acting cabotegravir for HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (CAB LA for PrEP) available for procurement for low- and middle-income countries (L&MICs) during 2025-2026.
“To ensure affordable pricing and worldwide availability for everyone who needs these medicines, enabling access to generic versions in all low- and middle-income countries is essential,” she noted.
However, she noted that ViiV continues to lock out many low- and middle-income countries from this possibility and was shocked that the company has even launched a legal challenge against Colombia for trying to access a generic version of another lifesaving HIV medicine, dolutegravir.
“ViiV’s announcement on increasing production of long-acting cabotegravir is a welcome first step, but their next steps must follow fast. It is not enough for ViiV to increase the number of doses up for sale,” she cautioned.
Byanyima urged ViiV to show leadership on access to medicines now by announcing an affordable not-for-profit price, dropping its harmful legal challenge, and enabling all low and middle-income countries to access generic versions of its medicines. Adding, “That is how they can help ensure this scientific breakthrough fulfills its potential and how they can help bring an end to the AIDS pandemic.”
ViiV’s new commitment will triple the company’s available supply versus 2024, to accelerate access and meet growing demand where the HIV burden and unmet need are greatest.
Deborah Waterhouse, Chief Executive Officer at ViiV Healthcare and President, Global Health at GSK, said: “The announcement marks another important milestone in our efforts to accelerate access to the only long-acting PrEP available now CAB LA where it’s needed most. We know long-acting PrEP provides a crucial option to suit the needs and circumstances of populations disproportionately affected by HIV, including young women and girls in Sub-Saharan Africa. We are committed to working at pace with our partners and the community — globally, regionally, and locally — to continue enabling sustainable access to CAB LA for PrEP as a key part of our mission to help end the HIV epidemic.”
ViiV’s strategy for CAB LA for PrEP in L&MICs is to maximise rapid access and uptake for populations with highest unmet needs, in a sustainable way, centred on partnership and integration into existing healthcare services and HIV prevention programmes.
