Researchers have reported that HIV treatment that consists of just two annual shots, provides complete protection against infections in women at higher risk.
This study was recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine. This was also presented at an AIDS Conference in Munich. In this study, researchers involved of 5,000 women. These women were from South Africa and Uganda. These women were asked to take lenacapavir injections.
When researchers observed the results, they found that those receiving lenacapavir injections were 100% protected, while only 2% of those receiving daily prevention pills were infected.
The data shows that lenacapavir injections taken twice a year is effective and reduce the risk of HIV completely. This is a big step forward for public health. If it gets approved and made available to those who need it, it can help a lot of people.
Gilead’s (a pharmaceutical company) Sunlenca shots were approved for treating HIV infection in the Europe, US, Canada and other countries. They are being tested in men before obtaining permission to use the medication. But early results in men’s testing led to the company-funded trial being stopped early that allowed all women to receive the shots.
AIDS research center director in South Africa is impressed by the level of protection provided. But only 30% of women in Africa consistently took the daily prevention pills provided by Gilead.
Researchers from South Africa are now proposing a twice-yearly HIV vaccine. It is a move that can be revolutionary for patients. The vaccine can eliminate the stigma that is associated with taking pills to prevent the virus. But experts are still concerned that Gilead has not yet agreed on an affordable price for the vaccines for the most vulnerable populations.
One of the reputed doctors said that lenacapavir injections can reverse the HIV/AIDS epidemic if it is made available in countries with high new infection rates. She also said that Gilead should publish an affordable price for lenacapavir because research shows it can be sold at a profit of under $100 per person per year. But Gilead currently charges over $42,000 per year in the U.S. that undermines the potential of the scientific breakthrough and slows global efforts to combat HIV and AIDS.
Gilead is now discussing the cost of Sunlenca drug. They are also talking to generic manufacturers to speed up the process.
Health workers believe that this new drug that is given through shots can encourage more people, especially young women, to seek HIV prevention as they will not have to hide daily pills from others.
Reference Link:
Linda-Gail Bekker et al, Twice-Yearly Lenacapavir or Daily F/TAF for HIV Prevention in Cisgender Women, New England Journal of Medicine (2024).
