FDA approves the world’s only twice-a-year shot to prevent HIV
Washington – The United States approved the only shot twice a year to prevent HIV, the Gilead Science manufacturer announced on Wednesday. This is the first step in a planned global deployment that could protect millions – although it is not clear how much in the United States and abroad will have access to the new powerful option.
While a vaccine to prevent HIV is still necessary, some experts say that the blow – a drug called Lenacapvir – could be the next best thing. He has almost eliminated new infections in two revolutionary studies on high -risk people, better than the daily preventive pills they can forget to take.
“This really has the possibility of putting an end to the transmission of HIV,” said Greg Millett, director of public policies at Amfar, Foundation for Aids Research.
The condoms help to protect themselves against HIV infection if used properly, but what is called preparation – by regularly using preventive drugs such as daily pills or a different shot given every two months – is increasingly important. The six -month protection of Lenacapavir in fact the most sustainable type, an option that could attract people to be wary of more frequent doctor visits or stigmatization of daily pills.
But upheavals in American health care – including cuts to public health agencies and Medicaid – and the reduction of American foreign aid to combat HIV darkens prospects.
Millett said that “the gaping holes in the system” in the United States and in the world “were going to make us difficult for us to make sure not only to put the Lénacapavir in the body of people, but to make sure that they come back” even as little as twice a year.
Gilead’s medication is already sold to treat HIV under the Sunlenca brand. The prevention dose will be sold under a different name, Yeztugo. It is given as two injections under the skin of the abdomen, leaving a small “deposit” of drugs to slowly absorb into the body.
Gilead did not immediately announce its price. The drug only prevents the transmission of HIV – it does not block other sexually transmitted diseases.
Global efforts to end the HIV pandemic by 2030 have stalled. There are even more than 30,000 new infections in the United States each year and around 1.3 million worldwide.
About only 400,000 Americans already use a form of preparation, a fraction of those estimated for the benefit. A recent study revealed that states with high use of PREP have seen a decrease in HIV infections, while rates have continued to increase elsewhere.
About half of the new infections are in women, who often need protection that they can use without the knowledge or consent of a partner. A rigorous study in South Africa and Uganda compared more than 5,300 young women and sexually active adolescent girls, the Lenacapavir twice a year or daily pills. There was no HIV infection in those who received the shot while around 2% in the comparison group caught HIV in infected sexual partners.
A second study revealed that the shooting twice a year almost as effective in homosexuals and people who do not comply with gender in the United States and in several other countries harshly affected by HIV.
Ian Haddock de Houston had tried the preparation from time to time since 2015, but he jumped at the opportunity to participate in the study of Lenacapavir and continues with the shots twice a year as part of research monitoring.
“Now, I forget that I am in preparation because I do not have to transport a bottle of pills,” said Haddock, who directs the initiative of normal anomaly, a non -profit organization used by LGBTQ + black communities.
“Men, women, homosexuals, rights-it really widens the possibility of prevention,” he added. The simple fact of remembering a clinical visit every six months “is a powerful tool in relation to the owl to constantly talk about it, like the condoms, by constantly taking care of taking your pill every day.”
“Everyone in all risky countries of HIV needs access to preparation,” added Dr. Gordon Crofoot of Houston, who helped direct the study in men. “We need easier access to preparation which is very effective like this.”
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