The first results from the Mobile Men study, presented at the 26th International Aids Conference in Brazil in July, show that long-acting injectable cabotegravir (CAB-LA) helped men who travel for work stay on HIV prevention for longer than oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). The study also found that same-day HIV testing and starting injectable PrEP was feasible. For those taking oral PrEP, the study found that event-based PrEP (alone or combined with daily) was preferred to daily-only dosing.
The study, conducted in Uganda and South Africa, explored the uptake, persistence (continuing to receive treatment on schedule) and preferences for long-acting injectable PrEP compared with oral PrEP among men whose work requires frequent travel. Researchers enrolled participants through mobile clinics at taxi ranks, construction sites, and truck stops in the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa, and through referrals from fishing communities to a clinic in Masaka, Uganda.
“Men who travel for work have often been overlooked in HIV prevention research, despite facing an increased risk of HIV acquisition, and this study aimed to address that gap,” said Dr Eugene Ruzagira of the Medical Research Council/Uganda Virus Research Institute (MRC/UVRI) and London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) Uganda Research Unit, who presented the new findings at AIDS 2026 on behalf of the Mobile Men study group. “As new prevention tools become available, ensuring that services are flexible and responsive to people’s needs will be critical to reducing new HIV infections across sub-Saharan Africa.”
The Mobile Men study was conducted in two stages. First, 400 HIV-negative men were randomly assigned to receive either oral PrEP or long-acting injectable PrEP for nine months. Men taking oral PrEP could choose between daily or event-based (2+1+1) dosing. During a second nine-month period, participants were free to choose which type of PrEP (oral or long-acting injectable) they preferred. Researchers also evaluated cost-effectiveness of the two PrEP strategies, the feasibility of HIV self-testing, sexually transmitted infections and HIV outcomes – with analysis of these data still ongoing.
Overall, persistence on PrEP (i.e., continuing to take PrEP throughout) during the first, randomised stage was 22%. When comparing the two PrEP type groups, persistence was significantly higher among men receiving long-acting injectable PrEP than those taking oral PrEP (28% versus 16%). For those taking oral PrEP, event-based PrEP (alone or combined with daily) was preferred to daily-only dosing overall, though this varied sharply by site.
“This study clearly shows that choice matters,” said Dr Nigel Garrett, chief scientific officer at the Desmond Tutu Health Foundation, who ran one of the trial sites. “Long-acting injectable PrEP achieved higher persistence than oral PrEP, but we also found that many men continue to prefer oral PrEP, particularly event-driven dosing. These findings reinforce the importance of making a range of HIV prevention options available so that services can better meet the diverse needs of men who travel for work.”
“I am so excited to see some of the results of the Mobile Men study being presented at Aids 2026 ,” said Professor Limakatso Lebina, Director of Science at the Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI). “This was one of the most innovative clinical trials we have implemented at AHRI – involving a decentralised clinical trial site using a mobile clinic at a taxi rank. Thank you to all our collaborators, stakeholders, participants and funders on this great partnership.”
A key milestone of the Mobile Men study was the sharing of results with participating communities. In line with good participatory practice (GPP) guidelines, study findings were shared with communities at around the same time as their presentation at the Aids 2026 conference. These sessions acknowledged participants’ contributions, provided an opportunity to discuss the findings, and reinforced the study’s commitment to community-centred research.
“Returning results to the communities who made this research possible is a fundamental part of good clinical research,” said Professor Julie Fox of King’s College London. “Sharing findings with participants alongside our presentation at Aids 2026 reflects our commitment to community-centred research and ensures that the people who contributed to the study have timely access to its outcomes.”
Top photo: The AHRI Mobile Men clinic on site at the Mtubatuba taxi rank in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
*This project (Grant Agreement No 101103140) is supported by the Global Health EDCTP3 Joint Undertaking and its members. Funded by the European Union under the Global HealthEDCTP3 Joint Undertaking. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the Global Health EDCTP3 Joint Undertaking nor its members. Neither of the aforementioned parties can be held responsible for them.