Its manufacturer Gilead Sciences announced Wednesday that the United States has approved the world's only two shots to prevent HIV.
This is the first step in the expected global launch, which can protect millions of dollars – although it is unclear how many people in the United States and abroad can access the powerful new option.
While there is still a need for a vaccine to prevent HIV, some experts say the drug, a drug called Lenacapavir, may be the next best thing. It almost eliminates new infections in two pioneering studies of people at high risk, better than the daily preventive drugs they forgot to take.
“It does have the potential to end the spread of HIV,” said Greg Millett, director of public policy at the AIDS Research Foundation Amfar.
Condoms help prevent proper use, but it is increasingly important to use preventive drugs (such as daily pills or different shots given every two months).
Lenacapavir's six-month protection makes it the longest lasting type – an option that can attract people to be wary of more frequent doctor visits or stigma of daily medications.
But the turmoil in U.S. health care – including cuts in public health agencies and Medicaid – those who have cut US foreign aid to fight HIV are casting a shadow.
Millett said “the vulnerabilities in the system” in the U.S. and globally, it will make it difficult for us to ensure we not only incorporate Lenacapavir into people’s bodies, but to make sure they come back,” even just twice a year.
Gilead's drugs have been sold to treat HIV under the brand Sunlenca, which is listed as approved in the Health Canada database. The preventive dose will be sold under a different name Yeztugo. It acts as two injections under the skin of the abdomen, leaving a small “warehouse” of medicine to slowly absorb into the body.
Gilead did not immediately announce its price. The drug only blocks HIV transmission; it does not block other sexually transmitted diseases.
Quebec is now the first in Canada to openly cover what new HIV prevention drugs experts say is the cost of much-needed interventions. Apretude is a long-acting injection drug that can replace daily oral pills.
By 2030, global efforts to end the HIV pandemic have stalled. There are still more than 30,000 new infections in the United States every year, with about 1.3 million worldwide.
Only about 400,000 Americans have used some form of PREP, a small part of the expected benefit. A recent study found that with heavy use of PREP, HIV infection decreased, while the incidence rate in other places continued to rise.
Trial participants say he forgot he is preparing
About half of new infections among women are protections that can be used without the knowledge or consent of a partner.
A rigorous study was conducted in South Africa and Uganda, comparing more than 5,300 young women and adolescents who were sexually active twice a year. There was no HIV infection among those who received the shooting, while about 2% of infected sexual partners in the comparison group captured HIV.
A second study found that in the United States and several other countries, twice-year shootings are almost as effective in homosexuals and in people with gender substandard conditions.
Ian Haddock, who lives in Houston, has been trying to prepare since 2015. But he seized the opportunity to participate in the Lenacapavir study and continued twice a year as part of the study follow-up.
“Now I forgot my preparations because I don’t have to carry a bottle with me,” Haddock leads the normal anomaly initiative, a nonprofit that is for the Black 2SLGBTQ+ community.
“Men, women, gay, straight- does expand the chances of prevention,” he said.
Haddock added that remembering only the clinic visits every six months “is a powerful tool, rather than constantly talking about condoms, keep making sure you take pills every day.”
“Every country in every country at risk of HIV needs to be prepared,” said Dr. Gordon Crofoot, who helped lead male research. “We need to have easier access to efficient preparations like this.”
The Associated Press Department of Health and Science has received support from the Howard Hughes Medical School’s Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. AP is responsible for all content.
