United States: There is a drug that has been used to treat HIV has also been proven to cut the risk of developing the infection, majorly much more than the primary choice for pre-exposure prophylaxis or PrEP.
More about the news
It was a Phase 3 clinical trial where 99.9 percent of individuals who received a twice-a-year injection of lenacapavir for HIV prevention remained free of infection, according to the drugmaker Gilead Sciences data.
Two out of 2,180 managed to have the disease – effectively lowering the risk of HIV infection by 96 percent, which is 89 percent above the effectiveness of Truvada, a pill taken once a day.
The trial was unblinded early as the significance of the key endpoints was observed, meaning that lenacapavir was provided to all participants.
What more has the expert stated?
According to Onyema Ogbuagu, principal investigator for the trial and director of the Yale Antivirals and Vaccines Research Program, “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,” CNN Health reported.
Moreover, “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,” he added.
More about the finding
The PURPOSE 2 trial involved cisgender male, transgender male, transgender female, and gender nonbinary participants who are between 16 years of age and above.
There were 88 trial sites that were conducted in Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Peru, South Africa, Thailand, and the United States.
Another trial showed that the use of the injectable drug lenacapavir taken monthly as PrEP can offer total protection against HIV in women, including young women and adolescent girls in Africa, according to data from the trial in July, CNN Health reported.
As per a news release of the WHO, it’s a “significant breakthrough in HIV prevention.”
To ensure that the drug approval process is achieved in several countries, Gilead stated that it will employ the said trial data to begin the process this year-end. However, it wants to authorize it in countries with high incidence and low access to ART, according to the company.