Semiannual drug injection decreases HIV infection risk by an astounding 96% as per pharmaceutical firm's claim, surpassing daily PrEP pill.
In a Phase 3 clinical study, a staggering 99.9% of individuals who received a biennial injection of lenacapavir for HIV prevention, as per data from pharmaceutical company Gilead Sciences, managed to avoid contracting the infection. The study revealed solely two instances among 2,180 participants, thereby lowering the risk of HIV transmission by a massive 96% and outperforming Truvada, a daily pill, by an impressive 89%. The study concluded prematurely due to meeting its primary objectives, making lenacapavir available to all subjects involved.
Onyema Ogbuagu, the trial's principal investigator and director of the Yale Antivirals and Vaccines Research Program, remarked, "The everyday pill-taking challenges some people experience, such as adherence concerns and stigma, have negatively impacted the implementation and continuity of the existing HIV prevention regimen. Lenacapavir's remarkable effectiveness, as demonstrated in the PURPOSE 2 trial, the potential benefits of a twice-yearly injection, and the study's diverse participant pool and geographical locations suggest that it could offer a novel choice to millions worldwide seeking to minimize their HIV infection risk."
According to Ogbuagu, "This groundbreaking development significantly bolsters our arsenal of tools, bringing us closer to realizing an AIDS-free generation."
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The PURPOSE 2 study encompassed cisgender males, transgender males, transgender females, and gender nonbinary individuals aged 16 and above who engage in sexual activities with males. The research was conducted at 88 locations worldwide—Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Peru, South Africa, Thailand, and the United States.
A separate study revealed that lenacapavir as pre-exposure prophylaxis could offer women and adolescent girls in Africa complete protection against HIV, evidencing a 100% success rate as per published trial results in July.
The World Health Organization hailed this discovery as "a significant advancement in HIV prevention" in a July press release.
Gilead intends to leverage these trial results to initiate drug approval proceedings in multiple nations by year's end. The organization has pledged to prioritize authorization in high-incidence, low-resource nations, according to their statement.
Lenacapavir's potential benefits, such as being administered as a twice-yearly injection, could significantly improve the health of individuals seeking to minimize their HIV infection risk. This groundbreaking development in HIV prevention, as noted by Ogbuagu, brings us closer to having a wider array of tools to combat HIV and potentially contribute to an AIDS-free generation.
