New HIV prevention drug with 99% effectiveness now covered under NIHB – APTN News
Apr 04, 2025
A new injectable medication for HIV prevention is now covered for First Nations and Inuit under the Non-Insured Health Benefits program, or NIHB.
The drug is called Apretude, a bi-monthly injectable that’s more than 99 per cent effective at reducing the risk of HIV transmission through sex according to two real-world evidence studies.
Apretude was first approved for use in Canada in 2024.
“It’s very exciting,” says Jessy Dame, the Two-Spirit Health director at Community Based Research Centre in Vancouver.
