HIV prevention: Experts excited about trial results of injectable Lenacapavir

injectable Lenacapavir

HIV prevention: Experts excited about trial results of injectable Lenacapavir

Experts attending the ongoing 25th International AIDS Conference in Germany have commended the results from the PURPOSE 1 trial of twice-yearly injectable Lenacapavir for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) prevention. An expert, Gail Bekker, who presented the results of the trial, confirmed that Lenacapavir demonstrated 100 per cent efficacy for HIV prevention in cisgender women – denoting or relating to a woman, whose gender identity corresponds with the sex registered for them at birth.

The conference is holding physically and virtually in Munich, Germany, this week. Over 10,000 participants from around the world are attending the event. A statement by Sharon Lewin, who is the President of International AIDS Society, AIDS 2024 International Co-Chair and Director of the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity at the University of Melbourne in Australia, confirmed the results from the trial. The statement reads: “These data confirm that twice-yearly Lenacapavir for HIV prevention is a breakthrough advance with huge public health potential. If approved and delivered – rapidly, affordably, and equitably – to those who need or want it, this long-acting tool could help accelerate global progress in HIV prevention.

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“We all owe a debt of gratitude to the thousands of young women in South Africa and Uganda who volunteered to be part of this study. Now we eagerly await results from PURPOSE 2, which is assessing twice-yearly Lenacapavir for HIV prevention in other populations and countries. In the meantime, all stakeholders must work together to accelerate equitable delivery of existing HIV prevention options, and do more to prepare for future options, such as lenacapavir for PrEP.

“Much of this work is underway this week at AIDS 2024, and will continue at HIVR4P 2024, the 5th HIV Research for Prevention Conference, which will take place in Lima, Peru, and virtually from 6 to 10 October 2024.”

The AIDS conference is the premier global platform to advance the HIV response. As the world’s largest conference on HIV and AIDS, it sits at the intersection of science, advocacy and human rights, bringing together scientists, policy-makers, healthcare professionals, people living with HIV, funders, media and communities. Since its start in 1985, the conference has served as an opportunity to strengthen policies and programmes that ensure an evidence-based response to HIV and related epidemics. HIV is a virus that attacks the body’s immune system. Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) occurs at the most advanced stage of infection. HIV targets the body’s white blood cells, weakening the immune system.