The injectable pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to prevent HIV is now available in Spain and funded by the National Health System, which makes the country the first in Europe to incorporate this therapeutic option within public healthcare. The treatment consists of an intramuscular injection every two months, designed as an alternative for people at higher risk of infection or with difficulties maintaining adherence to daily oral medication.
Spain takes this step in a context in which HIV continues to be an important public health challenge: each year around 3,000 new diagnoses are registered, and experts warn that more than half are detected late. Therefore, the arrival of new preventive tools is considered key to reducing transmission and improving early diagnosis.
The specialists highlight that injectable PrEP has demonstrated a high efficacy, with reductions in infection risk of up to 88% compared to oral treatment in certain studies, in addition to greater convenience for patients by eliminating the need for daily intake. They also underscore its potential in profiles where adherence to the pill can be more complicated, such as people with certain mental health problems or problematic substance use.
In practical terms, the treatment is administered in a hospital setting and under medical supervision, with a safety profile considered favorable. Injection site reactions are usually mild or moderate and tend to decrease over time, according to clinical trial data and initial experience in other countries where it has already been used.
With this incorporation, experts point out that a new stage opens in HIV prevention based on the diversification of options, combining oral PrEP with injectable alternatives to better adapt to the needs of each person and reinforce the international objective of drastically reducing new infections in the next decade.