The preventative intervention for people who cannot have pills takes NHS England one step closer to its goal of eliminating HIV transmissions in the next five years.

The cabotegravir injection will be available on the NHS for people who cannot have pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) tablets, in the coming months, following approval by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence today. 

Secretary of state for health and social care, Wes Streeting said: ‘The approval of this game-changing injection perfectly embodies what this Government is determined to deliver - cutting-edge treatments that save lives and leave no one behind. For vulnerable people who are unable to take other methods of HIV prevention, this represents hope. 

‘We're making real progress on HIV, with PrEP use up by 8% this year, and our ambition goes even further. England will be the first country to end HIV transmissions by 2030, and this breakthrough preventative therapy is another powerful tool in our arsenal to reach that crucial goal.'