Long-acting buprenorphine

Lasts one month

This long-lasting formulation provides an alternative to daily medicines, potentially helping increase uptake and adherence.

Helps with withdrawal

Reduces withdrawal symptoms and helps a person manage their addiction, which makes them less likely to engage in practices that could be harmful to their health.

Fewer clinic visits

Many clinics require supervision of these treatments, and daily clinic visits can act as an impediment to accessing treatment.

What is long-acting buprenorphine?   

Buprenorphine is a medication used to treat opioid use disorder. It can reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms without producing the intense high associated with other opioids. Unlike traditional forms of buprenorphine, which require daily dosing, long-acting formulations can be administered weekly or monthly, providing a sustained release of the medication. This helps in keeping withdrawal symptoms and cravings under control with fewer doses and fewer clinic visits.

How could long-acting buprenorphine impact hepatitis C transmission?

Emerging research suggests that long-acting buprenorphine could be a powerful tool in reducing hepatitis C transmission among people who inject drugs. By stabilizing patients with opioid use disorder, reducing the frequency of illicit opioid use and improving treatment adherence, long-acting buprenorphine can lower the behaviors that put people at risk of hepatitis C, such as sharing needles or other injection equipment. Unitaid is supporting work to evaluate long-acting buprenorphine as part of a package of harm reduction tools aimed at addressing the high rates of hepatitis C transmission among communities of people who inject drugs and other high-risk groups in low- and middle-income countries.

What are the potential benefits of the long-acting formulation over daily treatments?

Long-acting buprenorphine offers several benefits, including improved treatment adherence and potential reduced stigma. Patients may find it easier to manage their treatment with fewer doses, and healthcare providers can monitor and support patients with regular but less frequent check-ins.

How is Unitaid helping accelerate access?

Unitaid funds three complementary initiatives aimed at increasing access to harm reduction tools and integrating hepatitis C testing and treatment into community programs. The three projects are generating evidence critical to enabling broader use of long-acting buprenorphine, including understanding user preferences and costs, increasing demand and demonstrating effective delivery.

Our work on hepatitis C

Hepatitis C treatment is a game-changer because it is a cure. We’re working to ensure people at high risk in low- and middle-income countries, where 80% of infections occur, can access the best quality care.  