Injectable PrEP: cabotegravir (Apretude) and lenacapavir, where do things stand?
Definition : Injectable PrEP replaces pills with a shot: cabotegravir (Apretude), one injection every two months, has been available and reimbursed in France since March 2026; lenacapavir, two injections a year, is recommended by WHO.
- Keywords
- Apretude, cabotegravir, lenacapavir, Yeytuo, Yeztugo
- Topics
- Sexual Health & Prevention
- Updated
PrEP without pills: is it possible?
Yes. Besides pills (oral PrEP), WHO now lists two long-acting injectable PrEP options: cabotegravir and lenacapavir. The idea: no longer having to think about a pill every day or before every encounter.
Cabotegravir (Apretude) in France
According to AIDES (Remaides):
- authorised in Europe in September 2023, assessed by the French National Authority for Health (HAS) in 2024, then held up for months by price negotiations;
- available in France since February-March 2026, and 100% reimbursed by national health insurance;
- one intramuscular injection (in the buttock) every two months, i.e. every 8 weeks, with a 7-day margin before or after the due date;
- prescribed by hospital doctors or GPs, injected by a doctor or nurse;
- offered in hospitals, private practices and some health centres (for example AIDES’ SPOT centres or Le 190 in Paris).
A point AIDES flags: the viral load tests required before each injection are not always fully reimbursed; top-up insurance may cover the rest.
Who is it for?
Anyone HIV-negative who is exposed to HIV and prefers an injection to pills: frequent missed doses, irregular hours, wanting discretion (no pill box at home), stomach problems with oral PrEP. Sexosafe presents it as an alternative for people who struggle with daily pills.
And lenacapavir, two injections a year?
On 14 July 2025, WHO recommended injectable lenacapavir as an additional PrEP option: two injections a year. In the clinical trials cited in that announcement, it cut new infections dramatically. It received European authorisation at the end of August 2025 (as Yeytuo), but according to AIDES its launch in France still depends on the HAS assessment and price negotiations. Ask your sexual health clinic: things are moving.
Injection or pills: which one?
| Oral PrEP | Injectable cabotegravir | |
|---|---|---|
| Rhythm | 1 pill a day or on demand | 1 injection every 2 months |
| Reimbursement (France) | 100% | 100% (drug) |
| Follow-up | every 3 months | at each injection |
| Protects against other STIs | no | no |
Neither protects against syphilis, gonorrhoea, chlamydia or hepatitis: regular testing is still essential.
Do I need to be careful when stopping?
Yes. Cabotegravir stays in the body at low levels for a long time after the last injection. Don’t stop without talking to your doctor, who will tell you how to bridge (oral PrEP, condoms) so you’re not left exposed with insufficient protection.
How do I bring it up with my doctor?
Just say you use or want to use PrEP and would prefer the injectable form. If your doctor doesn’t know it, a sexual health clinic or infectious diseases unit can see you. In France, Sida Info Service (0 800 840 800) can point you to places that offer it.
Informational article based on official sources. It does not replace medical advice: if in doubt, if you have symptoms or took a risk, see a health professional or a sexual health clinic.
Sources
Figures and recommendations checked against:
- AIDES (Remaides) — Prep injectable : Apretude enfin disponible en France
- Santé publique France (Sexosafe) — Comment arrêter la PrEP ?
- World Health Organization (WHO) — WHO recommends injectable lenacapavir for HIV prevention (14 July 2025)
- World Health Organization (WHO) — HIV and AIDS – fact sheet (updated 27 July 2026)