Top Infectious Disease Experts Update Recommendations for HIV Prevention

A panel of some of the country’s top infectious disease experts updated their guidance to physicians and patients for the prevention of HIV. The US Preventive Services Task Force recommends the drug Apretude as a preventative option for people at higher risk of an HIV infection. Apretude is a long-acting injectable version of a popular PreP medication cabotegravir. PreP stands for pre-exposure prophylaxis: using medications proactively before an individual comes into contact with a virus. Two major studies showed that Apretude is more effective than the pill form of the drug, which is taken daily. The fact that people only need to take Apretude a handful of times per year, rather than every day, makes missing a dose less likely. Taking the full course of medication as prescribed is important to the success of the medication. The long-acting injectable may also alleviate potential stigma or privacy concerns surrounding a daily pill. In a joint letter, the Infectious Disease Society of America (IDSA) and the HIV Medicine Association (HIVMA) supported the new recommendations, while offering suggestions for improvement. The organizations published a joint letter.