New HIV-Prevention Injection Approved for NHS Use in England and Wales
A new HIV prevention injection is being rolled out on the NHS in England and Wales, offering an alternative to daily pills for the first time. The jab, cabotegravir (CAB-LA), is given every two months and is already available in Scotland. It's being described as a “game-changing” option for people who are at high risk of HIV but can't take oral PrEP for medical, practical, or personal reasons.
Unlike daily tablets, which have been the standard form of PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis), this long-acting injection is designed to offer both convenience and discretion. That could be especially helpful for those facing barriers like homelessness, domestic violence, or concerns about stigma at home.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting said: “The approval of this game-changing injection perfectly embodies what this government is determined to deliver – cutting-edge treatments that save lives and leave no one behind.” He added that the injection “represents hope” for people unable to use other forms of HIV prevention.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), which gave the green light, says the jab is the first injectable PrEP option it's approved. Around 1,000 people per year are expected to be offered the injection through NHS sexual health clinics, starting within the next few months.
Helen Knight from NICE said HIV “remains a serious public health challenge,” but CAB-LA gives another effective option to those “who cannot have daily oral PrEP due to medical contraindications or other barriers.”
Many HIV-negative people in the UK already use oral PrEP, and usage is on the rise. In 2024, over 111,000 people accessed PrEP through sexual health services in England—a 7% increase from the previous year.
Still, not everyone who needs it is getting it. Access is uneven, with lower uptake among Black African heterosexual men and women compared to white and ethnic minority gay and bisexual men. Advocates are calling for faster rollout and broader availability beyond just clinics. Richard Angell from the Terrence Higgins Trust said the injection is a “vital tool for tackling inequalities” and should be available in more settings.
Though the listed price of the injection is around £7,000 per person per year, the NHS has secured an undisclosed discount from the provider. As England pushes toward its goal of ending new HIV transmissions by 2030, this new tool could make a real difference.
