100% effective against HIV: New drug shows immense success in trial

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

A Purpose 1 trial screened 5,00 participants to evaluate a fusion capsid inhibitor, Lenacapavir, against two other HIV preventatives.

They found, over a six month period, that an injection of Lenacapavir twice a year delivered a 100% success rate as opposed to the two other medications, The Conversation reported.

“It’s definitely going to revolutionize how HIV is being prevented,” CEO of Proactive Health Solutions Dr. Fundile Nyati, GP stated in Primedia Plus.  

The groundbreaking new HIV drug

Across 25 sites in South Africa and Uganda, a Gilead Sciences team led by physician-scientist Linda-Gail Bekker investigated the efficacy of three PrEP drugs, HIV blockers, in 5,000 women.

1.3 million new HIV infections were reported last year. Though that figure reflects a significant decline, it’s still higher than the goal.

In South Africa, specifically, HIV impacts about 8.45 million people. In Uganda, about 1.2 million people have HIV, which is about the number in the United States.

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

As per The Conversation, women were divided into three groups in the double-blind trial, which masks to participant and doctor which drug has been administered to counter any placebo effect.

First, women in Africa find a daily regime to be difficult to maintain, many of whom between the ages of 16-25 take Truvada F/TDF. A new PrEP solution, Lenacapavir, would eliminate the problem as an injection to be given twice a year.

They also put up a newer daily pill Descovy F/TAF to the test against the Truvada which distributes itself more effectively in the body. It’s typically used in transgender men and women in high-income countries, as per University World News.

“The current methods, whilst they work, there are certain challenges with them,” Primedia Plus quoted Dr. Fundile Nyati, GP and Proactive Health Solutions CEO.

100% success rate

The results of the Phase 1 trial shows that the 2,134 who received the Lenacapavir shot didn’t contract HIV. However, the women who took the two daily supplements, did. About 16 of the 1,068 contracted the virus on Truvada and 39 out of 2,136 women ended up with HIV on Descovy, The Conversation reported.

Phase 1 trials will move onto unblinded tests for which participants will be told what they are receiving and given a choice. Purpose 2 trial is also underway which will evaluate other demographics as the kind of sex one impacts the effectiveness of the drug.

The new solution will hopefully help authorities reach the global goal of decreasing HIV infections worldwide to 500,000 people.