Australian survey reports limited interest in CAB-LA PrEP by gay and bisexual men

22 November 2025. Related: Journal scan, Treatment access, HIV prevention and transmission.

Simon Collins, HIV i-Base

A recent cross-sectional Australian survey of gay and bisexual men reported a limited preference for CAB-LA.

Out of over 1680 responses the most preferred options were monthly oral pills (28%), followed by six-monthly injections (24%), removable implants (15%), daily oral (14%), event-driven oral (13%), and CAB-LA (4%). Importantly, none of the top three preferences are readily available and two are still only in research studies.

This perhaps supports the decision by NICE in the UK to only fund limited access to CAB-LA for approximately 1000 people each year who are unable to take oral PrEP. [2]

It might be a higher choice for other groups however, especially when people do not want to have pills at home.

Reference

1. Chan C et al. Assessing Demand for Long-Acting Injectable PrEP and Emerging PrEP Options for HIV Prevention in Australia: Results from a Cross-Sectional Survey of Men Who have Sex with Men. AIDS Behav (2025).
   https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-025-04969-4
2. HTB. NICE approves limited access to injectable cabotegravir PrEP in England and Wales + BHIVA notes on prescribing. (17 October 2025).
   https://i-base.info/htb/52527