Discover New Preventative HIV Treatments and Resources (Learn More)

HIV prevention has entered an exciting new era with recent breakthroughs that offer greater protection, convenience, and choices for those at risk. One of the most significant advancements in 2025 is the approval and recommendation of long-acting injectable PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) options that transform how people can protect themselves from HIV.

New Long-Acting Injectable PrEP Options

The World Health Organization (WHO) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have endorsed the use of injectable lenacapavir (LEN), a drug administered only twice a year. LEN provides a highly effective alternative to daily oral PrEP pills, making HIV prevention easier for people who face challenges with daily pill adherence or access to healthcare. Clinical trials have shown that lenacapavir can prevent almost all HIV infections among people at risk, with protection rates near 99.9% [web:1][web:5][web:7].

Besides LEN, injectable cabotegravir (CAB-LA) and the dapivirine vaginal ring are other recommended prevention tools, contributing to a diverse arsenal of options. WHO supports a simplified public health approach using rapid HIV tests to improve delivery and accessibility of these long-acting prevention methods in communities [web:3].

Why HIV Prevention Matters

Despite significant progress, HIV remains a major public health concern with about 1.3 million new infections globally in 2024. Prevention is critical, especially for key populations like sex workers, men who have sex with men, transgender people, and people who inject drugs. Access to effective prevention tools empowers individuals to take control of their sexual health and reduce new HIV transmissions [web:1].

Additional Resources and Support

• Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP): Daily oral medications that drastically reduce HIV risk when taken as prescribed remain an important option. [web:2]
• Treatment as Prevention (TasP): For people living with HIV, maintaining viral suppression through antiretroviral therapy prevents transmission to partners. [web:4]
• Rapid HIV Testing: Simplifies access to prevention services and supports community-based delivery [web:1][web:3].
• Educational and Service Locators: Websites like HIV.gov offer tools to find nearby HIV testing and care services and provide extensive HIV/AIDS information [web:2].

Looking Forward

Ongoing research continues toward more innovations such as longer-acting drugs, therapeutic vaccines, and immunotherapies with the hope of one day curing or eliminating HIV altogether. For now, these groundbreaking prevention options represent huge strides in the fight against HIV.

By staying informed about the latest prevention treatments and accessing local resources, individuals can significantly reduce their risk and contribute to ending the HIV epidemic globally.