Nyaradzo Mgodi, CROI 2023: HIV prevention in practice – Unmet needs and clinical evidence for long acting cabotegravir in at-risk populations

Despite significant progress in HIV prevention efforts, unmet needs and challenges remain in at-risk populations. These include issues such as stigma, lack of access to healthcare and prevention services, and implementation of effective prevention strategies. Dr Nyaradzo Mgodi (Zimbabwe University, Zimbabwe) joins touchINFECTIOUS DISEASES to discuss the unmet needs and challenges that remain in at-risk populations and the clinical evidence for the use of long-acting injectable cabotegravir across at-risk populations.

The presentation, ‘From Efficacy to Effectiveness: Catalyzing Rollout of Long Acting PrEP‘, was presented at the Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI) 2023, 19–22 February 2023.

Watch more in this interview series:

Dapivirine vaginal ring in pregnant and breastfeeding women – Delivery modalities of HIV prevention, highlights from CROI

Long-acting injectable PrEP and cabotegravir roll-out for prevention of HIV- Factors affecting clinical practice and policy making

Questions:

1. What are the unmet needs and challenges in the prevention of HIV in at-risk populations? (0:40)
2. Could you give a brief overview of the clinical evidence for long-acting injectable cabotegravir across at-risk populations? (2:11)

Disclosures: Nyaradzo Mgodi has nothing to disclose in relation to this video interview.

Support: Interview and filming supported by Touch Medical Media Ltd. Interview conducted by Atiya Henry.

Filmed as a highlight of CROI 2023

Transcript

My name is Dr Nyaradzo Mgodi from the University of Zimbabwe Clinical Trials Research Centre. We are housed within the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences at the University of Zimbabwe, which is a centre of excellence conducting clinical trials and we contribute the evidence for public health admissions.

What did you find the most exciting hot topics at CROI 2023?

What I also found impactful was the development of the dapivirine vaginal ring, which was found to be safe, tolerable and acceptable in pregnant and breastfeeding women. When we look at long acting cabotegravir, it was recommended by all for people at risk, but the World Health Organisation (WHO) mentioned that there is no data in pregnant and breastfeeding people, and there is also no data on people who inject drugs and so forth. So, I’m happy that the dapivirine vaginal ring is a step ahead, providing positive data in adolescents and in pregnant and breastfeeding women. At CROI, the results showed that it remains safe, acceptable, tolerable and very minimal amounts of dapivirine and significantly minimal amounts of dapivirine in breastmilk. Because as you know, here in sub-Saharan Africa, we really want our women to breastfeed for at least two years. Therefore, we don’t want a product that interferes with breast milk and might impact the health of the infant. Therefore, I found that very commendable and demonstrated excited that we continue giving more options and choices for women in Africa.

There was also a talk about safety in non-human primate results investigating an inset, this was one of the next generation products that are being investigated. There were also lots of discussions at CROI 2023 on lenacapivir and islatravir as delivery modalities of HIV prevention, multipurpose prevention technologies. So there was a lot in terms of HIV prevention for the marginalized populations.