The Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz) will begin a study to support the evaluation of the incorporation of biannual HIV prevention injections into the Unified Health System (SUS). The information was confirmed by Fiocruz this Friday (16). The lenacapavir vaccine, from the manufacturer Gilead Sciences, will be used.
The choice of lenacapavir for HIV-1 prevention, as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) was approved on Monday (12) by the National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa). The drug is highly effective against the virus and, as a subcutaneous injection, needs to be administered every six months.
The medication is recommended, according to Anvisa, for adults and adolescents aged 12 and over, weighing at least 35 kilograms, who are at risk of contracting the virus. Before starting treatment, it is mandatory to perform a negative test for HIV-1.
The study conducted by Fiocruz, called ImPrEP LEN Brasil, will be aimed at gay and bisexual men, non-binary people identified as male at birth and transgender people, aged 16 to 30.
The medicine will be available in São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Salvador, Florianópolis, Manaus, Campinas (SP) and Nova Iguaçu (RJ).
Fiocruz confirmed that the doses have already been made available by Gilead Sciences and that the start of applications depends on the arrival of country-specific needles in Brazil.
