Long-Acting Antiretroviral Therapies for HIV Treatment and Prevention: Efficacy and Implementation

Masika Anna Mahinda

Department of Pharmacy Kampala International University Uganda

Email: mahindamasika@studwc.kiu.ac.ug

                                                          ABSTRACT
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection remained a persistent global health challenge despite significant progress in antiretroviral therapy. While daily oral antiretroviral regimens have substantially improved survival and reduced transmission, long-term adherence difficulties continue to compromise treatment and prevention outcomes. Long-acting antiretroviral therapies emerged as an innovative pharmacological approach aimed at overcoming these limitations. This review examined the biochemical rationale, clinical efficacy, and implementation considerations of long-acting antiretroviral therapies for both HIV treatment and prevention. A narrative review methodology was utilized to synthesize and critically analyze existing scientific literature on long-acting antiretroviral agents, including pharmacological studies, clinical trials, and implementation research. Evidence indicated that long-acting antiretroviral therapies achieved virologic suppression comparable to conventional oral regimens while offering advantages in adherence, patient satisfaction, and prevention efficacy. Injectable long-acting agents also demonstrated superior effectiveness in HIV prevention compared to daily oral pre-exposure prophylaxis. Nonetheless, challenges related to resistance risk, healthcare infrastructure, cost, and equitable access persist. Longacting antiretroviral therapies represented a transformative advancement in HIV care, but their optimal impact will depend on strategic implementation and health system adaptation.

Keywords: HIV, Long-acting antiretrovirals, Antiretroviral therapy, HIV prevention, Pharmacokinetics.

CITE AS: Muhindo Edgar (2026). Long-Acting Antiretroviral Therapies for HIV Treatment and Prevention: Efficacy and Implementation. NEWPORT INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SCIENTIFIC AND EXPERIMENTAL SCIENCES, 7(2):30-34.
https://doi.org/10.59298/NIJSES/2026/72.3034