France has introduced a long-acting injectable medication to prevent HIV infection, described as a breakthrough by the medical community and patient organizations. The authorities' decision, published on Thursday, February 26, 2026, in the Official Journal, enables the reimbursement of the drug cabotegravir, known under the brand name Apretude. The therapy, administered as an injection every two months, provides an alternative to the previously available oral pre-exposure prophylaxis, which requires daily pill intake. The drug, manufactured by ViiV Healthcare, a subsidiary of the British conglomerate GSK, has been deemed "irreplaceable and particularly costly," justifying its full coverage by the health insurance system.
Government Decision and Reimbursement
The French government published a regulation on Thursday, February 26, 2026, authorizing the market entry and reimbursement of the injectable form of the drug cabotegravir (Apretude) for pre-exposure prophylaxis. Due to its "irreplaceable and particularly costly" nature, the therapy will be fully funded by public funds, which is intended to ensure broad access to it.
Advantages of the New Administration Form
The new long-acting injectable form is administered every two months, representing a significant improvement compared to the previous oral PrEP, which required a daily or very frequent dose. This aims to minimize the risk of poor adherence to recommendations or therapy abandonment, which is a problem with oral medications.
Manufacturer and International Context
The drug Apretude is manufactured by ViiV Healthcare, a subsidiary of the British pharmaceutical giant GSK. The therapy had been awaited in France for nearly two years, and its authorization follows earlier approval in the United States, where it was hailed as a breakthrough ("game changer") in the fight against AIDS.
France has made significant progress in public health by authorizing a long-acting injectable medication to prevent HIV infection. The government regulation, published on February 26, 2026, paves the way for the reimbursement and widespread use of the drug cabotegravir, known under the brand name Apretude. This therapy, administered as an injection every two months, is intended to be a groundbreaking alternative to the existing pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), available only in the form of daily tablets. As sources emphasize, oral PrEP, despite its effectiveness, carries the risk of low adherence, i.e., non-compliance with therapeutic recommendations, which can lead to treatment discontinuation and loss of protection. The new injectable form aims to minimize this problem, increasing the practical effectiveness of prevention. This decision has been positively received by medical communities and patient organizations, which have been advocating for the introduction of this therapeutic option for nearly two years. Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a strategy involving the intake of antiretroviral drugs by individuals not infected with HIV but at elevated risk, to prevent infection. This concept, developed in the second decade of the 21st century, has become a key tool in the global fight against the HIV/AIDS epidemic, alongside treatment of already infected individuals (which also limits transmission) and condom promotion. The drug Apretude is manufactured by ViiV Healthcare, a subsidiary of the British pharmaceutical conglomerate GlaxoSmithKline (GSK). In justifying the reimbursement decision, French health authorities described the drug as "irreplaceable and particularly costly," which constitutes the legal basis for its full public insurance funding. This means that for patients eligible for prophylaxis, the therapy will be free, which is crucial for equality in access to modern healthcare. „„C'est un game changer” : contre le sida, un médicament ultra prometteur autorisé aux États-Unis” — The French authorization follows the earlier approval of the drug in the United States, where it was hailed as a "game changer." This delay in its introduction to the French market, mentioned in articles, may stem from the registration procedures of the European Medicines Agency and national assessment and price negotiation processes. The introduction of injectable PrEP could significantly impact the dynamics of the HIV epidemic in France and other countries that follow suit. Simplifying the dosing regimen from daily to bimonthly has the potential to reach a broader group of people, including those who, for various reasons, have difficulty taking pills regularly. This is particularly important in the context of the most at-risk groups. This decision aligns with a broader global trend of seeking long-acting forms of HIV drugs, both for treatment and prevention. The next step will be monitoring the program's implementation, its effectiveness in real-world conditions, and any potential adverse effects associated with the new form of administration.