Twice-yearly injection reduced HIV infections by 96 percent, company says
Lenacapavir, a new HIV prevention drug, has proven to dramatically reduce the risk of infection according to data reported from the drugmaker Gilead Sciences, who found two annual injections of the drug reduced HIV infections by 96 percent.
Data from the trial, known as PURPOSE 2, monitored cisgender men, transgender men, transgender women, and gender nonbinary individuals in Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Peru, South Africa, Thailand and the United States who have sex with partners assigned male at birth. Reports show out of 2,180 participants only two people contracted HIV.
“With such remarkable outcomes across two Phase 3 studies, lenacapavir has demonstrated the potential to transform the prevention of HIV and help to end the epidemic,” Daniel O'Day, chair and CEO of Gilead, said in a statement.
O’Day said the company would now seek to win regulatory approval for the drug.
“Now that we have a comprehensive dataset across multiple study populations, Gilead will work urgently with regulatory, government, public health and community partners to ensure that, if approved, we can deliver twice-yearly lenacapavir for PrEP worldwide, for all those who want or need PrEP.”
While the results are good news, the drug is expensive.
The National Institutes of Health have estimated that the two injections of the drug could cost more than $40,000 a year.
Nonetheless, researchers are hoping to see the global impact of the drug in places where treatment is lacking.
“In the United States, the stubbornly high rate of HIV diagnoses — especially in the U.S. South, and particularly among gay and bisexual men of color and transgender people — demands novel approaches to help people prevent HIV acquisition,” said Colleen Kelley, a professor of medicine at Emory University and a PURPOSE 2 principal investigator.
The drug has not been approved for use anywhere globally by itself, though lenacapavir has been authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of HIV infection in adults, in combination with other medicines.
Gilead is planning to use results from PURPOSE 2 to start the drug approval process throughout different countries.
Date: |
-
CBS News - Top stories
Doomed Titan sub's ex-operations chief says company goal was money
David Lochridge, OceanGate's former operations director, labeled the submersible unsafe prior to its last, fatal voyage.7 hours ago -
CNBC - Business
E.l.f. Beauty CEO says low prices have helped company thrive as cosmetics industry slows
E.l.f. Beauty CEO Tarang Amin told CNBC's Jim Cramer on Monday the budget-conscious nature of the products has helped the company perform well.22 hours ago -
The Hill - Politics
83 percent of young adults are worried about state of US democracy
The vast majority of young adults say they are worried about the state of U.S. democracy, according to a poll published Tuesday by the Sine Institute for Policy and Politics at American University. ...9 hours ago -
The Guardian - World
US military hopefuls hail ruling ending bar on HIV-positive people enlisting
Judge strikes down government restriction and orders military to allow asymptomatic HIV-positive people to join. Ever since he was a child, Isaiah Wilkins had dreamed of joining the US military and ...9 hours ago -
ABC News - Entertainment
Emmy Awards ratings up more than 50%, reversing record lows
The Emmys telecast on ABC reached nearly 7 million viewers, a jump of more than 50% from the record low of the last ceremony in January17 hours ago -
Yahoo News - World
Report links meatpacking companies to 'war on nature' in Brazil
2 hours ago - Brazil -
Financial Times - World
Trump promotes sons’ crypto company World Liberty Financial
Republican presidential candidate courts digital asset sector in his campaign18 hours ago - Donald Trump -
The Guardian - World
The cement company that paid millions to Isis: was Lafarge complicit in crimes against humanity?
The French cement giant started operating in Syria just before the civil war erupted. When Islamic State took over the region, Lafarge paid them protection money so it could keep trading. The ...17 hours ago -
CNBC - Business
China seeks a homegrown alternative to Nvidia — these are some of the companies to watch
Some of China's giants inclduing Huawei, Alibaba and Baidu are among those trying to create alternative semiconductor tech to Nvidia.16 hours ago - China
More from The Hill
-
The Hill - Politics
Hunter Biden asks to push back gun sentencing a few weeks
Hunter Biden, the president’s son, on Tuesday asked the judge overseeing his criminal gun case to push back his upcoming sentencing by a few weeks. Biden asked to move the scheduled Nov. 13 date ...37 minutes ago - Joe Biden -
The Hill - Politics
Watch live: Trump, Sarah Huckabee Sanders hold town hall in Michigan
Former President Trump will speak with voters in the storied auto manufacturing community of Flint, Mich., Tuesday evening at a town hall moderated by Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, who ...58 minutes ago - Donald Trump -
The Hill - Politics
Jason Carter says grandfather ready to 'turn page' on Trump era
Jason Carter, the oldest of former President Carter's grandchildren, said Tuesday that his grandfather is "excited" to vote for Vice President Harris and ready to "turn the page" on former ...59 minutes ago - Donald Trump -
The Hill - Politics
Klobuchar, Warner press tech leaders to take action against election-related disinformation
Democratic Sens. Amy Klobuchar (Minn.) and Mark Warner (Va.) sent a letter to major tech leaders on Tuesday, urging them to take "decisive action" against disinformation related to the 2024 general ...1 hour ago -
The Hill - Politics
Tensions rise after apparent Trump assassination attempt
Welcome to The Hill's Campaign newsletter {beacon} Campaign Report Campaign Report The Big Story Tensions rise after apparent Trump assassination attempt Another major event has shaken up the ...1 hour ago - Donald Trump