An HIV treatment drug has been found to reduce the risk of infection, thereby, offering higher protection than the primary pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) option that is currently available. According to data from drugmaker Gilead Sciences, the results of a Phase 3 clinical trial found that 99.9% of participants who took a twice-a-year injection of lenacapavir for HIV prevention did not acquire the infection.
A report in CNN says that there were only two cases among 2,180 patients, thereby, reducing the risk of HIV infection by 96% and proving 89% more effective than Truvada which is a pill that has to be taken once a day.
Human immunodeficiency virus, also known as HIV is an infection that impacts the immune system. When the condition is not treated, it can lead to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). It is the most advanced stage of the HIV. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), HIV has claimed 40.4 million [32.9–51.3 million] lives so far with ongoing transmission in all countries globally. “There were an estimated 39.0 million [33.1–45.7 million] people living with HIV at the end of 2022.”
HIV damages the immune system which makes the body less able to fight infections and diseases. Mayo Clinic says that if HIV isn’t treated, it can take years before it weakens the immune system enough to become AIDS.
Onyema Ogbuagu, principal investigator for the trial and director of the Yale Antivirals and Vaccines Research Program said, “The difficulty some people can experience with taking an oral pill every day, including challenges with adherence and stigma, have hindered uptake and persistence of the standard of care for too long, thus blunting PrEP’s impact on HIV prevention.”
Ogbuagu added, “The incredible efficacy demonstrated in the PURPOSE 2 trial, the potential benefits of a twice-yearly injection, and the diversity of trial sites and participants show the impact that lenacapavir for PrEP could have for people around the world who need new choices to reduce their chances of acquiring HIV. This breakthrough adds significantly to our arsenal of tools to move us closer to achieving an AIDS-free generation.”
There were 88 trial sites in Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Peru, South Africa, Thailand and the United States. The trial included cisgender men, transgender men, transgender women and gender nonbinary individuals aged 16 years or older who have sex with partners assigned male at birth.
Another recent clinical trial which was conducted in South Africa and Uganda and the results of which were published in July found that a twice-yearly injection of a new pre-exposure prophylaxis drug gives young women total protection from HIV infection. The trial tested the six-month injection of Lenacapavir which would provide better protection against HIV infection than two other drugs, both of which are daily pills.
Gilead said it will use these trial data to start the drug approval process in multiple countries by the end of the year. It plans to prioritize authorization in high-incidence, low-resource countries.