China's domestically developed anti-HIV drug has entered Phase 3 clinical trials, a last step prior to official approval. Once approved, the drug, Albuvirtide, is expected to be the world's first long-acting injection for HIV treatment.

Long-acting injections have been a growing trend in recent years. They not only offer patients an alternative to traditional treatments, they are also more clinically effective than oral tablets, as they stop the virus from getting into target cells at an early stage.

Currently, no long-acting anti-HIV drug has been approved anywhere in the world, said an employee with the clinical team of the National Health Development Planning Commission.