Long-acting Cabotegravir for PrEP approval by NICE marks a vital step forward in HIV prevention

17 October 2025

NICE has today approved long-acting Cabotegravir (CAB-LA) as an HIV prevention option for people who cannot use oral PrEP and are at increased risk of acquiring HIV-1 infection.

Professor Matt Phillips, President of BASHH, said: “This decision represents a major milestone in the UK’s efforts to end new HIV transmissions by 2030 and offers a much-needed expansion of the HIV prevention toolkit, helping us to reach more people with PrEP.

CAB-LA offers an effective, long-acting alternative to daily oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). Its introduction will be particularly important for individuals who experience challenges in accessing or using daily oral PrEP, or for whom other personal factors make injectable PrEP a more suitable option.

Evidence demonstrates that significant inequalities in PrEP uptake persist – particularly among Black African heterosexual women and men. BASHH believes that CAB-LA, alongside other evolving PrEP options, can play a crucial role in reducing these disparities and strengthening efforts to make HIV prevention equitable, accessible and effective for all who could benefit.

BASHH warmly welcomes this announcement and is urging swift implementation with a view on equity of access to ensure that those who need it can access this vital intervention quickly, wherever they are in the UK.”

NHS England has also issued a statement, estimating around 1000 patients could benefit based on current modelling.