HIV BREAKTHROUGH: Lenacapavir Shows 100% Efficacy in Clinical Trial
A groundbreaking clinical trial in South Africa and Uganda has demonstrated that a twice-yearly injection of lenacapavir, a new pre-exposure prophylaxis drug, provides 100% protection against HIV infection in young women.
The Purpose 1 trial, sponsored by Gilead Sciences, tested the efficacy of lenacapavir compared to two other PrEP drugs, Truvada F/TDF and Descovy F/TAF. The results showed that none of the 2,134 women who received lenacapavir contracted HIV, while 16 women (1.5%) on Truvada F/TDF and 39 women (1.8%) on Descovy F/TAF became infected.
This breakthrough offers new hope in the fight against HIV, particularly for young women in eastern and southern Africa who bear the brunt of new infections. The trial’s success has led to the recommendation that all participants be offered a choice of PrEP.
Lenacapavir, a fusion inhibitor, is administered every six months and has shown superior efficacy compared to daily pills. The results of this trial have significant implications for HIV prevention and could potentially accelerate progress toward ending AIDS by 2030.
