NEWS: New HIV Jab Could Help End Virus by 2030

The NHS is introducing cabotegravir (CAB-LA), a long-acting injection taken every two months, offering a breakthrough alternative to daily PrEP pills for people most at risk

As reported by the BBC, a new long-acting HIV prevention jab could soon transform how people at high risk protect themselves from the virus, offering an alternative to daily medication.

The injection, called cabotegravir (CAB-LA), is administered every two months – just six times a year – and is designed for adults and adolescents at risk of sexually acquired HIV who are eligible for PrEP but find daily pills difficult to manage. Around 1,000 people are expected to receive the treatment initially, with others continuing on oral PrEP.

While traditional PrEP tablets remain highly effective, experts say they aren’t always practical or easy to access for everyone. The injectable version could make HIV prevention simpler and more discreet, helping to close remaining gaps in access.

The NHS has secured a confidential discount on the treatment, which is listed at around £7,000 per patient per year, from its manufacturer. Health leaders hope it will play a key role in achieving the UK’s target of ending new HIV transmissions by 2030.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting described the approval as “a game-changing step” in the fight against HIV, adding that it reflects the government’s commitment to “cutting-edge treatments that save lives and leave no one behind.”