Antiretroviral therapy for pregnant and lactating people living with HIV and antiretroviral therapy (ARV) prophylaxis for their infants have together resulted in dramatic decreases in peri- and post-natal HIV transmission. Still, an estimated 160,000 HIV infections in infants and young children occurred in 2021. Gaps in prevention strategies, especially during the breastfeeding period when roughly 50% of perinatal transmission occurs, have left infants vulnerable. As a discreet, safe, and long-acting intervention, broadly neutralising antibodies (bNAbs) hold promise to contribute to closing the gaps in current strategies and reduce peri- and post-natal HIV transmission as an adjunct to, or in the place of, ARVs— supporting the elimination agenda. Importantly, because the doses required are significantly lower than adult doses, infant prophylaxis with bNAbs is likely cost-effective across a range of implementation scenarios in sub-Saharan Africa. In February 2023, 70 global experts convened in Cape Town, South Africa to reach a consensus and define an action plan for advancing bNAbs for peri- and post-natal prophylaxis. Join the IAS Global HIV Vaccine Enterprise and IAVI at this session to launch the takeaways from these proceedings.
