New drug finds huge success in trial

Results from a large clinical trial in South Africa and Uganda show that a new prophylactic drug can prevent HIV infections in women better than two other PrEP drugs currently available.

A type 1 clinical trial examined 5,000 participants to evaluate a fusion capsid inhibitor, lenacapavir, compared with two other HIV preventive agents.

They found that over a six-month period, injecting Lenacapavir twice a year had a 100% success rate compared to the other two drugs, The conversation reported.

“This will definitely revolutionize the way HIV is prevented,” said Dr. Fundile Nyati, CEO of Proactive Health Solutions, in Primemedia Plus.

The revolutionary new drug against HIV

At 25 sites in South Africa and Uganda, a Gilead Sciences team led by physician-researcher Linda-Gail Bekker studied the effectiveness of three PrEP drugs, HIV blockers, in 5,000 women.

1.3 million new HIV infections were reported last year. Although this figure reflects a significant decline, it remains above the target.

In South Africa, HIV affects about 8.45 million people. In Uganda, about 1.2 million people are living with HIV, about the same number as in the United States.

However, HIV poses the greatest risk to women in South Africa and Uganda. To address this, researchers tested three PrEP drugs, two of which are currently available.

According to The conversationThe women were divided into three groups in the double-blind trial, which concealed from participants and doctors which drug was given to counteract any placebo effect.

First, African women struggle to stick to a daily regimen, and many of them between the ages of 16 and 25 are taking Truvada F/TDF. A new PrEP solution, lenacapavir, could eliminate this problem in the form of a twice-yearly injection.

They also tested a new daily pill, Descovy F/TAF, against Truvada, which distributes more efficiently in the body. It is commonly used in transgender men and women in high-income countries, according to News from the academic world.

“Current methods, even if they work, pose certain challenges,” Primemedia Plus quoted Dr Fundile Nyati, general practitioner and CEO of Proactive Health Solutions.

100% success rate

The phase 1 trial results show that the 2,134 women who received the Lenacapavir injection did not get HIV. However, the women who took the two daily supplements did. About 16 of the 1,068 women got the virus with Truvada, and 39 of the 2,136 women ended up getting HIV with Descovy. The conversation reported.

Phase 1 trials will move to blinded testing, where participants will be informed about the treatment and given a choice. The Phase 2 trial is also underway and will assess other demographics, such as a person’s gender, which impact how well the drug works.

The new solution is expected to help authorities meet the global goal of reducing the number of HIV infections worldwide to 500,000 people.