Drugs/Therapy

HIV Prevention: Single Shot Might Be The Cure?

By Leian N. | Update Date: Dec 29, 2016 07:46 PM EST

The possible cure for HIV might come in the form of a single flue shot-like injection that could easily be acquired in clinics. Called cabotegravir, the injectable drug might aid the worldwide call for HIV prevention and help pave the way for a medical breakthrough for the disease. 

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) made the announcement last week that the medicine has been distributed to participants of a global clinical trial, according to NBC News. This study will cover about 4,500 members of the LGBT community located in Asia, Africa and the Americas, particularly in areas where the number of recorded cases of HIV and AIDS is significantly high. 

As reported by LGBT Nation, the testing began on Dec. 21. The group will be randomly divided into users who will be given cabotegravir every two months, while the others will be taking Truvada every day, a blue pill that is already being taken for HIV prevention. The study will run for five years, wherein results will reveal which of the two medicines is more effective in treatment of the illness. 

Although the Centers for Disease Control reported that HIV cases have declined by nearly 20 percent, this statistic only covered white gay and bisexual men. The same isn't true, however, for transgender women and men of color, and young people, where an increase in diagnoses was seen. The higher incidence of HIV and AIDS in this demographic may also be due to fewer people using the drug from 2012 to 2015.

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