&lt;h2&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Cabotegravir (Apretude): Long-Acting PrEP for HIV Prevention&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Not everyone wants to remember a daily pill. &lt;strong&gt;Apretude (cabotegravir)&lt;/strong&gt; offers another option: a long-acting injectable form of PrEP administered every two months after the initial doses. Here&#39;s how it works, who it may suit, and what to know before starting.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2&gt;&lt;strong&gt;What Is Apretude?&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Apretude is the brand name for &lt;strong&gt;extended-release injectable cabotegravir&lt;/strong&gt;, a long-acting antiretroviral medication developed by &lt;a href=&quot;https://viivhealthcare.com/&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;ViiV Healthcare&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/a&gt;. It is an injectable form of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for adults and adolescents weighing at least 35 kg who are at risk of sexually acquired HIV. It provides an alternative to daily oral PrEP.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2&gt;&lt;strong&gt;How Does Cabotegravir Work?&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Cabotegravir belongs to a drug class called &lt;strong&gt;integrase strand transfer inhibitors (INSTIs)&lt;/strong&gt;. It works by blocking HIV&#39;s integrase enzyme, which HIV needs to insert its genetic material into human DNA. By interfering with this process, cabotegravir helps prevent HIV from establishing an infection.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Apretude is given as an intramuscular injection into the gluteal muscle. The extended-release formulation allows cabotegravir to remain in the body for an extended period, supporting dosing every two months after the initial injections.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Who Is Apretude For?&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Apretude is approved for &lt;strong&gt;HIV-negative adults and adolescents weighing at least 35 kg (about 77 lb)&lt;/strong&gt; who are at risk of sexually acquired HIV. It may be an option for people who:&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Find it difficult to take a daily PrEP pill consistently&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Prefer an injectable form of HIV prevention&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Have concerns about keeping daily PrEP medication at home&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Prefer fewer medication-dosing occasions than taking a pill every day&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Before starting Apretude, a healthcare provider must confirm you are HIV-negative using both a &lt;strong&gt;laboratory antigen/antibody test and an HIV-1 RNA test&lt;/strong&gt; to rule out an acute infection. Regular, comprehensive HIV testing is also required while using injectable PrEP.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2&gt;&lt;strong&gt;How Is Apretude Given?&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Apretude is administered by a healthcare provider rather than self-injected at home. The standard schedule involves:&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ol&gt;
&lt;li&gt;An optional &lt;strong&gt;4-week oral cabotegravir lead-in&lt;/strong&gt; for people who want to assess tolerability before receiving injections&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;An initial injection followed by a second injection one month later&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Continuing injections every two months thereafter&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ol&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The oral lead-in is optional; some people can start directly with the injectable form. Keeping injection appointments on schedule is critical. The recommended injection window allows an injection to be given up to 7 days before or after the scheduled date. If an injection is missed beyond this 7-day recommended window, a healthcare provider should assess the situation and determine the appropriate next step.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2&gt;&lt;strong&gt;How Effective Is It?&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Long-acting injectable cabotegravir is highly effective at preventing sexually acquired HIV. In the HPTN 083 and HPTN 084 clinical trials, cabotegravir was more effective than daily oral tenofovir-based PrEP in the study populations.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The WHO describes long-acting injectable cabotegravir as a highly effective additional HIV prevention option. The CDC states that injectable cabotegravir is effective at reducing the risk of getting HIV from sex when taken as prescribed. Like all PrEP options, its effectiveness depends on receiving injections as scheduled and following recommended HIV testing and clinical follow-up.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;h2&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Side Effects and Precautions&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The most common side effects are &lt;strong&gt;injection-site reactions&lt;/strong&gt;, such as pain, tenderness, swelling, or a lump where the injection was given. These reactions are generally mild to moderate and usually do not last long.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Other possible side effects include headache, fever, fatigue, and other systemic reactions. Serious hypersensitivity reactions and liver-related adverse reactions have also been reported.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Tell your healthcare provider about any medicines you take and any history of serious drug reactions before starting Apretude. Your provider can assess whether cabotegravir is appropriate for you and whether any medicines could interact with it.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Cost and Access&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Apretude is a branded long-acting medication, and access and cost vary considerably between countries. Depending on where you live, it may be available through private healthcare providers, insurance programmes, public health services, or other access and assistance programmes. Availability of lower-cost alternatives can also vary by country. Ask your healthcare provider about current availability, eligibility, and costs in your area.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Important: What Happens If You Stop Apretude?&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Cabotegravir can remain in the body for many months after injections are stopped. During this period, drug levels gradually decline. If levels fall below the concentration needed to prevent HIV while HIV exposure continues, there may be a risk of HIV infection and development of drug resistance.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;For this reason, people who stop or miss Apretude injections should speak with a healthcare provider about alternative HIV prevention and appropriate follow-up testing.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Frequently Asked Questions&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;h3&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Is Apretude better than daily PrEP pills?&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;p&gt;There is no single PrEP option that is best for everyone. Apretude avoids the need to take a pill every day, but it requires regular clinic visits for injections and may not be as widely available as oral PrEP. The right option depends on individual circumstances and access.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h3&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Does Apretude protect against other STIs?&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;p&gt;No. Apretude is designed to prevent HIV and does not protect against other sexually transmitted infections. Other prevention measures, such as condoms and regular STI testing, may still be appropriate.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h3&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Can I switch from oral PrEP to Apretude?&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Yes. People using oral PrEP may be able to switch to injectable cabotegravir. A healthcare provider should confirm HIV-negative status and determine the appropriate transition schedule based on the person&#39;s current PrEP regimen and circumstances.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h3&gt;&lt;strong&gt;What happens if I miss an injection appointment?&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Contact your healthcare provider as soon as possible. Apretude has a recommended injection window, and missed injections may require clinical assessment and, in some circumstances, temporary oral PrEP or another prevention option.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h3&gt;&lt;strong&gt;How often do I need HIV testing while using Apretude?&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Regular HIV testing is an essential part of injectable PrEP care. CDC guidance recommends HIV testing with both an HIV antigen/antibody test and an HIV-1 RNA test at the one-month follow-up visit and at least every two months thereafter, beginning in month 3. These tests help detect HIV infection early and reduce the risk of developing drug resistance while using cabotegravir.&lt;/p&gt;

Cabotegravir (Apretude): Long-Acting Injectable PrEP Explained

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