Results from a large clinical trial in South Africa and Uganda have found that the new preventive drug is more effective at preventing HIV infection in women than two other currently available PrEP drugs.
The objective 1 trial evaluated the fusion capsid inhibitor lenacapavir against two other HIV prevention drugs in 5,000 participants.
They found that injections of lenacapavir, given twice a year over a six-month period, resulted in a 100% success rate compared with the other two drugs. conversation report.
“This will undoubtedly revolutionise the way HIV is prevented,” said Dr Fundil Nyathi, CEO of Proactive Health Solutions and a GP. Primedia Plus.
Breakthrough HIV treatment
A Gilead Sciences team led by physician-scientist Linda Gayle Becker studied the effectiveness of three PrEP drugs (HIV inhibitors) in 5,000 women across 25 sites in South Africa and Uganda.
Last year, 1.3 million new HIV infections were reported, a figure that represents a significant decrease but is still higher than the target.
Specifically, about 8.45 million people in South Africa are affected by HIV, while about 1.2 million people in Uganda are infected with HIV, roughly the same number as in the United States.
But HIV poses the greatest risk to women in South Africa and Uganda. To address this issue, researchers tested three PrEP drugs, two of which are currently available.
According to conversationIn the double-blind study, women were divided into three groups, participants and doctors were masked, medicine It was given to counteract the placebo effect.
First, African women have difficulty taking medication every day, many of whom are between the ages of 16 and 25 and take Truvada F/TDF. The new PrEP solution, lenacapavir, would address this issue by requiring only two injections per year.
They also tested Descovy F/TAF, a newer daily tablet, against Truvada. Distribute more effectively Internally, it’s commonly used by transgender men and women in high-income countries. University World News.
“The current method, while working, does present some challenges.” Primedia Plus “These are some of the most common health issues that people face,” said Dr Fundile Nyati, general practitioner and CEO of Proactive Health Solutions.
100% success rate
According to the Phase 1 trial results, 2,134 people who received the lenacapavir injection did not become infected with HIV. However, women who took the supplement twice daily did. About 16 of 1,068 people contracted the virus on Truvada, and 39 of 2,136 people contracted HIV on Descovy. conversation report.
The Phase 1 trial will move to an open-label study, where participants will be told what they’ll receive and given the choice. Phase 2 trials are also underway and will evaluate how gender affects treatment, as well as other demographics. Drug effectiveness.
The new solution is expected to help authorities reach the global target of reducing the number of HIV infections worldwide to 500,000.
About the Editor
Maria Mocerino A Los Angeles native, Maria Mocherino has had articles published in Business Insider, The Irish Examiner, The Rogue Mag, Chacruna Institute for Psychedelic Plant Medicines, and now Interesting Engineering.
