Nov 18 (EveningStandard) – The NHS has been given the green light to offer people living with HIV the first “long-acting injectable” to keep the virus at bay.
Charities have hailed the “incredible news” which offers an alternative to adults living with HIV who have to take daily antiretroviral drugs.
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Many people living with HIV can keep the virus at very low levels by taking antiretroviral tablets each day.
These drugs keep the number of virus particles in the blood – also known as the viral load – so low that it cannot be detected or transmitted between people.
But now an estimated 13,000 people will be eligible for the injectable treatment in England which means they no longer need daily treatment but will have two injections every two months.
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This means they can reduce the days they receive treatment from 365 to six per year.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence said that cabotegravir (also called vocabria and made by Viiv Healthcare) with rilpivirine (also called Rekambys and made by Janssen) can be offered to adults who have managed to keep HIV viral load to a low level through daily antiretroviral medicines.
Clinical trial results show that cabotegravir with rilpivirine is as effective as oral antiretrovirals at maintaining a low viral load, Nice said.
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Meindert Boysen, deputy chief executive Nice, said: “Despite scientific advances HIV is still incurable, but the virus can be controlled by modern treatment.
“However, for some people, having to take daily multi-tablet regimens can be difficult because of drug-related side effects, toxicity, and other psychosocial issues such as stigma or changes in lifestyle.
“We’re pleased therefore to be able to recommend cabotegravir with rilpivirine as a valuable treatment option for people who already have good levels of adherence to daily tablets, but who might prefer an injectable regimen with less frequent dosing.”
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Debbie Laycock, head of policy at Terrence Higgins Trust, said: “It’s incredible news for people living with HIV in England and Wales that they will be able to access the first long-acting injectable treatment on the NHS as an additional treatment option.
“We have incredibly effective treatment which means HIV is now a manageable virus, however, it is lifelong so it is important that taking treatment is as easy as possible.
“HIV unfortunately remains a stigmatised condition. Although we’re working hard to tackle the stigma surrounding HIV, this new injectable treatment option could help people in house-shares for example who do not wish to share their HIV status and will no longer have to worry about hiding their medication.
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“Pill fatigue is also an issue for some people living with HIV who struggle with the idea of taking antiretroviral drugs every day.
“Long-acting injectable treatment is also a better option for those who have difficulty swallowing medication. Therefore, the institute’s approval provides a welcome additional treatment option for people living with HIV across England and Wales.
“This is a great step forward as we work towards ending new cases of HIV by 2030. The institute’s decision brings great potential for HIV prevention including long-lasting PrEP in the future.”
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Dr Jonathan Stoye, from the Francis Crick Institute, said: “Drug treatment of HIV-1 has been one of the great successes of modern medicine.
“While HIV-1 was once a virtual death sentence from Aids, combination therapy now allows an essentially normal life span.
“However, almost all treatments require taking medicines at least once a day. This is inconvenient and brings with it the risk of missing doses essential for virus control.
“The approval by Nice of a long-acting injectable treatment must therefore be warmly welcomed.”
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