Twice-Yearly Shot Offers 100% HIV Protection, Study Finds
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Twice-Yearly Shot Offers 100% HIV Protection, Study Finds
Game-Changing HIV Prevention Breakthrough
A recent study has discovered that a twice-yearly shot, called Sunleca (lenacapavir), has been shown to be 100% effective in preventing HIV infection in females. The drug, manufactured by Gilead, offers a new hope in the fight against the global HIV epidemic.
Study Findings
The study, funded by Gilead, involved over 5,000 females in Uganda and South Africa, with 2,134 of them receiving the twice-yearly injections. None of the participants who received the injections reported having HIV. In contrast, around 2% of those who took daily oral pills for HIV prevention, such as Descovy and Truvada, reported HIV infections.
Experts Weigh In
Dr. Amit Achhra, an assistant professor of medicine at Yale School of Medicine, specialising in infectious diseases, comments: “While we don’t have an HIV vaccine yet, injectable HIV PrEP comes close to what one might see as periodic ‘HIV vaccine,’ i.e. periodic shots that have very high efficacy in preventing HIV infection. For those who don’t wish to get the shots, very effective oral HIV PrEP pills will remain an effective option. With more HIV prevention options available, we hope the rate of HIV infections will further decline in the future.”
Current State of HIV
Approximately 39 million people worldwide live with HIV, and sub-Saharan Africa is home to many of the highest numbers of diagnoses. In 2022, according to the Foundation for Aids Research, 3,100 young women and girls (ages 15 to 24) contracted HIV every week in sub-Saharan Africa.
Lenacapavir: A New Hope for HIV Prevention
Lenacapavir, a capsid inhibitor, is used as a treatment for HIV. As a preventive measure, it can disrupt the protein shells (capsids) of the HIV virus, necessary for replication, and potentially prevent HIV infection. Dr. Monica Gandhi, a professor of medicine and associate division chief of the Division of HIV, Infectious Diseases, and Global Medicine at UCSF/San Francisco General Hospital, notes: “The formation of a capsid around the virus is very important at multiple stages of the viral life cycle, including during nuclear transport and release. Lenacapavir is so potent that it can be provided just twice yearly (every 26 weeks), which is its advantage over agents for PrEP (daily oral or cabotegravir, which is given once every 8 weeks).”
Future Development
The PURPOSE 2 trial is currently underway, studying lenacapavir’s efficacy in men, transgender women, and non-binary individuals, with results expected later this year. This development could lead to a new breakthrough in HIV prevention for males.
Pricing and Accessibility
The current price point for lenacapavir is over $40,000 for the first year. However, it has been suggested that it could be sold for as little as $40, which would make it a viable option for widespread use, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Dr. Gandhi notes: “If the drug can be more cheaply made than what the company is suggesting, that would be a huge boon for the field, especially in preventing HIV infection in low- and middle-income countries.”
Conclusion
The discovery of a twice-yearly shot that offers 100% protection against HIV infection is a groundbreaking finding that could revolutionize HIV prevention. As experts continue to research and develop new treatments, it is crucial to consider the pricing and accessibility of these medications to make them widely available and affordable.
FAQs
Q: What is lenacapavir?
A: Lenacapavir is a capsid inhibitor that prevents HIV infection by disrupting the protein shells (capsids) of the HIV virus.
Q: What is the current price point for lenacapavir?
A: The current price point for lenacapavir is over $40,000 for the first year.
Q: When are the results of the PURPOSE 2 trial expected?
A: The results of the PURPOSE 2 trial are expected later this year.
Q: How does lenacapavir work differently for males and females?
A: According to Dr. Gandhi, the pathways to HIV infection work differently in females and males, but a new study should provide encouraging results for males.
Q: What is the current state of HIV prevention in the US?
A: According to the CDC, we still need more uptake of PrEP (oral and injectable) in this country among women and men.
Q: What is the significance of accessible pricing for lenacapavir?
A: Accessible pricing is crucial to make lenacapavir a viable option for widespread use, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.
