Gilead Sciences has reported promising results from a large PrEP trial involving its experimental drug, lenacapavir. The trial, which included over 2,000 cisgender adolescent girls and young women in Africa, demonstrated that twice-yearly injections of lenacapavir provided 100% protection from HIV infection. This capsid inhibitor, administered subcutaneously into the abdomen with two oral loading doses, was found to be superior to existing oral regimens (TDF/FTC; TAF/FTC), with no infections occurring in the lenacapavir arm of the study. The news has led to a significant increase in Gilead's stock price, marking its best day since October 2022. Researchers and healthcare professionals, including Mizuho Americas's Jared Holz, are optimistic about the potential of lenacapavir to significantly reduce new HIV infections, particularly in populations with the highest infection rates.
An injection given just twice a year could herald a breakthrough in protecting the population that has the highest infection rates. https://t.co/UFlcel3qr8
lenacaprivir $GILD, really good news New Drug Provides Total Protection From H.I.V. in Trial of Young African Women https://t.co/MZmS8pgdQA
Researchers in the trenches of the fight against HIV got a rare piece of exciting news this week: Results from a large clinical trial in Africa showed that a twice-yearly injection of a new antiviral drug gave young women total protection from the virus. https://t.co/qygttPjEf0
With all this talk of twice-yearly lenacapavir as PrEP succeeding in women, people are confusing such a trial with HIV vaccine research. That's a much longer road. But researchers do feel renewed energy in the field after recent setbacks, I reported: https://t.co/bN069nbxhp
Such promising news. Imagine wiping out all new HIV infections. $GILD https://t.co/f4069wgX2K
Twice-yearly injections of an anti-HIV drug offered 100% protection from infection to more than 2000 cisgender adolescent girls and young women. https://t.co/6v1FWtlQL1
$GILD having its best day since October 2022! This comes after the company reported 100% efficacy for its experimental twice-yearly injection to prevent HIV. @MizuhoAmericas's Jared Holz on the company's pivot and other themes to watch in the space: https://t.co/zPOT1XOdZv
LENACAPAVIR: Huge news. Capsid inhibitor injected into abdomen (with 2 oral loading doses) subcutaneously every 6 months. Large PrEP trial >2000 women compared LEN to 2 oral regimens (TDF/FTC; TAF/FTC). LEN 100% superior to oral arms; no infections LEN arm https://t.co/RTvPyGwjh6