HIV breakthrough: Trial shows drug provides 100% protection
A trial in South Africa and Uganda revealed lenacapavir, a new PrEP drug given twice yearly, provided 100% protection against HIV in young women, outperforming daily options. The promising results may offer a more manageable prevention approach.
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A recent HIV breakthrough trial conducted in South Africa and Uganda demonstrated that a new pre-exposure prophylaxis drug, lenacapavir, administered twice yearly, provided 100% protection against HIV infection in young women. The trial compared the efficacy of lenacapavir with two other daily PrEP drugs. The results showed that none of the women who received lenacapavir contracted HIV, while a small percentage of those taking the other drugs did. This significant finding offers hope for a highly effective prevention tool to combat HIV infections, especially among young people who may find daily prevention methods challenging. The trial will now move into an 'open label' phase, offering participants the choice of PrEP they prefer. The drug's manufacturer plans to submit the results to regulators for approval, aiming to make the drug accessible and affordable globally. This breakthrough underscores the importance of continued research and innovation in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
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10 commentsI want to say also that I recognize this trial was largely among presumably heterosexual people in an HIV stricken region, but my experience is in the gay and trans community in the USA and I wanted to share a personal story of the value these drugs have had for us. My story will no doubt attract some weird comments, but I hope we all recognize the value of consenting adults making their own choices. We all deserve to find our joy, and I suspect most of us recognize the value of sex and pleasure in some form or another. I hope my story provides some insight in to what drugs like this can mean to communities around the world. Love to all people. <3
Edit: By the way here’s some book recommendations on polyamory. You too can find this joy if you’re in the right community and you develop the skills to handle things with maturity and respect, while identifying others who have done the same work. It’s been a ten year journey for me, but it has been well worth it. Books: “More Than Two, 2nd edition” (2nd edition is in preprint but recommended over the first) “Polysecure”, “Polywise”. Good luck exploring! Oh and finding a supporting therapist made all the difference for me in this journey too. That one is harder but see the directory on the Psychology Today website and take advantage of their filters.
And lots of discussion: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=40742163
Do I understand correctly that this means an individual HIV virus cannot replicate in the presence of the drug? I assume there must be more to it because otherwise this would be a cure?
How does that work? Does it just stay in body forever without being filtrred by liver or kidneys?
> In an ideal world, governments will be able to purchase this affordably and it will be offered to all who want it and need protection against HIV.
Well, since we don't live in an ideal world, we'll have to see what "not-ideal" looks like...
Maybe I am too cynical, but I don't expect the pharma industry to fix something that is good for the bottom line.
How much tri-therapy cost?
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