Can you pay Ksh416,731 for an injection that protects you from contracting HIV and basically allows you to have sex without ever using condoms? Well, injectable PrEP has just been approved but you will have to pay for it.
PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) is medicine people at risk for HIV take to prevent getting HIV from sex or injection drug use.
PrEP involves taking 2 pills, 2-24 hours before a possible sexual exposure to HIV and then continuing to take 1 pill each day until 2 days after last possible sexual exposure.
PrEP is taken orally but now there is an injectable drug which replaces PrEP and is only taken bimonthly.
HIV-negative people who wish to use the drug called Apretude or Cabotegravir, will begin with two injections in the buttocks administered one month apart, and then an injection every two months.
US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Monday December 20th approved Apretude/cabotegravir to reduce the risk of sexually acquired HIV. The endorsement provides users the first long-acting injected option in PrEP setting.
People who currently use PrEP tablets must take them daily before and after sex while for Apretude/cabotegravir it’s just a bimonthly shot.
Apretude/cabotegravir manufacturer GlaxoSmithKline’s ViiV Healthcare said they are offering the drug at $3,700 or Ksh416,731 per vial, a company spokesperson told Fierce Pharma.
The Cabotegravir-rilpivirine injection initial loading dose costs $5,940 (Ksh669,023) and subsequent monthly continuation doses cost $3,960 (Ksh416,731) per injection.
These prices are based on the wholesale list price and work out at $47,520 or Ksh5,352,189 a year.
Basically Apretude/Cabotegravir is a drug for the rich for now, the poor will have to stick to using condoms or oral PrEP.
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