Long-Acting HIV Shots Gain Appeal but Uptake Remains Low – Medical Xpress

Long-acting HIV shots appeal to many patients living with HIV, yet actual uptake remains low, according to a recent Rutgers Health-led survey. The study found that while 68% of respondents said they would prefer an antiretroviral injection every two months over daily pills, only 2.8% of patients were actually receiving the long-acting regimen, despite its availability for four years.

The survey included 801 people living with HIV from Boston, Chapel Hill, N.C., and San Diego, drawn from a National Institutes of Health-supported clinical cohort. Researchers used statistical models to examine factors tied to treatment preferences, aiming to understand the gap between patient interest and real-world use of injectable HIV therapy.

Deanna Kerrigan, professor and vice dean at the Rutgers School of Public Health and the study’s lead author, said, “There’s clearly something that is limiting the ability of patients to translate their preferences into actually being on the medicine.” She emphasized that this gap matters because HIV outcomes in the United States remain uneven.

As of 2022, 65% of the 1.2 million people living with HIV nationwide consistently maintained virus levels low enough to prevent disease symptoms and transmission. The long-acting regimen—comprising two drugs administered at a medical office—was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2021 for monthly use and in 2022 for every-two-months dosing, with the goal of improving viral suppression through a simpler treatment option.

For some patients, injections mean fewer pills to remember, reduced pill fatigue, less concern about missed doses, and greater privacy, as pill bottles at home might reveal an HIV diagnosis. Despite these potential benefits, barriers to access and adoption persist.

Researchers noted that newer long-acting options, including a twice-yearly shot, are currently under study. The team has piloted a tool involving structured conversations and plans a larger trial to test whether such interventions can increase uptake and improve equity in access to long-acting HIV treatment.

The findings were published in the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes. Medical Xpress reported on the study, highlighting the disconnect between patient preference and actual use of long-acting injectable antiretrovirals in HIV care.