CLINICAL RESEARCH UPDATE

by Carolyn Chu, MD, MSc, AAHIVS, AAHIVM Chief Medical Officer

October 8, 2024


Featured Literature:

Roth AM, Batholomew TS, Ward KM, et al.  Preferential initiation of long-acting injectable versus oral HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis among women who inject drugs.  Clin Inf Dis.  2024 Sep 30.  https://doi.org/10.1093/cid/ciae450.

Authors analyzed PrEP prescription data from a subsample of adult women participating in the TIARAS (Efficacy of a Trauma Intervention for Affect Regulation, Adherence, and Substance Use to Optimize PrEP for Women Who Inject Drugs) randomized trial.  Participants (n=62) were enrolled at a large community-based syringe services program in the mid-Atlantic U.S.: 69% were homeless and 97% engaged in polysubstance use (82% reported injecting approximately 6 times per day).  33% and 48% reported sharing syringes and sex exchange, respectively.  Over a third (n=19) had prior PrEP experience: 6 had previously taken oral PrEP, 7 had received long-acting injectable cabotegravir, and 6 had experience with both.  Each received individualized counseling with program navigators, selected their preferred PrEP formulation, then underwent laboratory screening.  People who selected long-acting injectable cabotegravir returned for a one-week follow-up which included clinical evaluation and the first injection.  Most (89%) participants opted for long-acting injectable PrEP—no specific demographic factors were significantly associated with PrEP modality selection.  However, some HIV risk behaviors were associated: women who selected injectable PrEP reported an average of 2 sex partners within 6 months (compared to none among women selecting oral PrEP), and women who reported daily injection drug use also preferred injectable PrEP.

Author’s Commentary:

More information on PrEP preferences, initiation, and persistence among women who inject drugs is needed to guide both domestic and global efforts on HIV prevention and substance use.  This study affirms that not only is long-acting injectable PrEP an acceptable and desired option for HIV prevention among women who inject drugs, but that community-based harm reduction programs are an important setting for increasing PrEP access and uptake.  The majority of study participants who selected long-acting cabotegravir as their preferred PrEP choice attended their first injection visit: details  describing patient and provider experiences, overall duration of long-acting PrEP use, and substance use and other health-related outcomes will be welcome as additional results from the TIARAS trial become available. 

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