EU regulator approves injectable HIV drug that experts say could help stop transmission
In a statement on Friday, the EU drug regulator said its evaluations of lenacapavir, sold as Yeytuo in Europe by Gilead Sciences, showed the drug is 'highly effective' and 'considered to be of major public health interest.' Once the regulator's guidance is accepted by the European Commission, the authorization is valid in all 27 EU member countries as well as Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein.
Last year, studies suggested that lenacapavir, already used to treat people with HIV, was nearly 100% effective in stopping transmission in both women and men.
Winnie Byanyima, executive director of the U.N. AIDS agency, has said the drug 'could change the trajectory of the HIV epidemic' if it is made available to everyone who needs it.
In June, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration authorized lenacapavir to prevent HIV. Earlier this month, the World Health Organization recommended countries offer the drug as an additional option to people at risk of the virus.
Condoms help guard against HIV infection if used properly. Other medication aimed at preventing HIV include daily pills that people can take and another injectable drug called cabotegravir, which is given every two months. Lenacapavir's six-month protection makes it the longest-lasting type, an option that could attract people wary of more visits to health clinics or stigma from taking daily pills.
Critics have raised concerns, however, that lenacapavir may not be made widely enough available to stop global outbreaks of HIV. Drugmaker Gilead has said it will allow cheap, generic versions to be sold in 120 poor countries with high HIV rates — mostly in Africa, Southeast Asia and the Caribbean.
But it has excluded nearly all of Latin America, where rates are far lower but increasing, sparking concern the world is missing a critical opportunity to stop the disease.
Last year, there were about 630,000 AIDS deaths worldwide and more than 40 million people are estimated to have HIV, according to UNAIDS.
UNAIDS chief Byanyima has previously suggested the U.S. President Donald Trump make a deal with Gilead to produce and license its 'magical' prevention drug lenacapavir across the world to the millions of people who need it.
___
The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
The Associated Press
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
35 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Almost half of NHS England waiting list patients yet to have initial appointment
Around three million people in England have had no further health care since being referred to a hospital waiting list, new data suggests. NHS England figures last month estimated 7.36 million treatments were waiting to be carried out at the end of May, relating to just under 6.23 million patients – with the analysis from MBI Health suggesting almost half of those have been left in limbo. Referring to the issue as a 'frontlog' that contributes to increasing NHS waiting list times, MBI said the problem 'has gone unchallenged for too long', with an estimated 2.99 million people waiting for their first clinical contact. MBI's analysis found that around 70% of referral to treatment pathways fall into the category of being 'unseen' since the patient's GP referred them to a specialist. Delays in making a first assessment can lead to late diagnosis, worsening symptoms and pressure on emergency services. The analysis found that ear, nose and throat (ENT), trauma and orthopaedics, gastroenterology, ophthalmology and gynaecology and obstetrics departments were consistently the specialist departments with the greatest number of patients not seen for the first time. As part of the Government's 10-year health plan, the NHS is expected to meet its target of carrying out 92% per cent of routine operations and appointments within 18 weeks by March 2029 – a target that has not been achieved for almost a decade. The latest figures show how challenging that target will be given an estimated one million of the three million unseen patients have already gone more than 18 weeks without receiving any care. 'If accurate, three million people are trapped in an invisible waiting list crisis, stuck without basic diagnostic tests of first appointments while their conditions worsen,' Rachel Power, the chief executive of the Patients Association, told the Guardian. 'The scale is staggering, as nearly half of all patients on a waiting list haven't been seen by anyone. That's not a healthcare service; that's a breakdown. 'These aren't just statistics. They're people checking their phones daily for hospital calls that never come, unable to plan their lives while their symptoms deteriorate.' Last month it was found people of working age are making up a growing proportion of those on the NHS waiting list for treatment in England. Data tables published for the first time by NHS England also show people in the most deprived parts of the country are more likely to wait more than a year to start hospital treatment than those in the least deprived. The figures, analysed by the PA news agency, showed 56.1% of those on the list at the end of June this year were of working age (defined as age 19 to 64), up from 55.8% a year ago and 55.0% in June 2022. At the same time, the proportion of people on the waiting list under the age of 19 has fallen, standing at 10.8% in June this year, down from 11.2% a year earlier and 11.9% in June 2022. The proportion who are over 65 has remained broadly unchanged at around 33.1%. People of working age are also more likely to have to wait more than a year to start treatment (3.0% of patients in this age group at the end of June) than those over 65 (2.5%). However, the proportion is the same as those under 19 (also 3.0%).
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Mothers can now access breastfeeding support helpline 24 hours a day thanks to government extension
New mothers will now be able to access breastfeeding support 24 hours a day after the government extended a national helpline. The National Breastfeeding Helpline provides free, evidence-based information day and night – supporting families to overcome challenges that might prevent mothers from successfully breastfeeding their baby. Breastfeeding can take time to establish, with some mothers worrying if their baby is feeding well enough, particularly in the days after birth. Public health minister Ashley Dalton said: 'Many parents will know the struggle of being up in the middle of the night, desperately trying anything to get your baby to feed. 'It can be incredibly overwhelming and deeply lonely. 'We are determined to make sure more women get the support they need through this vital 24/7 helpline.' Data published by the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) in November shows the prevalence of breastfeeding at six to eight weeks in England increased to 52.7 per cent in 2023-24 compared with 49.2 per cent in 2022-23. At the time, OHID said breastfeeding rates 'are generally improving at local level in England'. However, there are disparities, with women in wealthier areas more likely to breastfeed than those in more deprived areas. Catherine Hine, chief executive of The Breastfeeding Network – which runs the helpline alongside the Association of Breastfeeding Mothers, said: 'While some callers seek help for a wider range of infant feeding challenges, we know that almost nine in 10 (89 per cent) of callers are more confident to continue breastfeeding after contacting the helpline. 'Many women also call to talk about combination feeding, introducing solids, stopping breastfeeding and formula feeding. 'We're really excited that shifting to a 24-hour service has been so popular and that our great team are being contacted by women and families throughout the UK and with a wide variety of backgrounds and infant feeding experiences.' Minister for children and families Janet Daby said extending the helpline for 2025/26 is 'just one part of a much bigger effort to transform how families are supported'. The move forms part of wider reforms of family services, backed by £126 million in funding that will support the Family Hubs and Start for Life programme. This includes £18.5 million to improve infant feeding across 75 local authorities in England. Ms Dalton added: 'Through our Plan for Change, we're going further to ensure every child gets the best start in life. 'We've provided extra funding for local infant feeding services through the Family Hubs and Start for Life programme, where parents can access drop-in sessions for practical and emotional support.' Earlier this month, the government also announced there will be a Best Start family hub in every local authority in England by April 2026, with £500 million targeted at disadvantaged communities. The service has been described as a 'one-stop shop' for families with children from pregnancy through to early years and beyond.
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
More mothers to get 24/7 access to breastfeeding support
More new mothers will be able to access 24/7 breastfeeding support after the Government extended a national helpline. The National Breastfeeding Helpline provides free, evidence-based information day and night – supporting families to overcome challenges that might prevent mothers from successfully breastfeeding their baby. Breastfeeding can take time to establish, with some mothers worrying if their baby is feeding well enough, particularly in the days after birth. Public health minister Ashley Dalton said: 'Many parents will know the struggle of being up in the middle of the night, desperately trying anything to get your baby to feed. 'It can be incredibly overwhelming and deeply lonely. 'We are determined to make sure more women get the support they need through this vital 24/7 helpline.' Data published by the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) in November shows the prevalence of breastfeeding at six to eight weeks in England increased to 52.7% in 2023-24 compared with 49.2% in 2022-23. At the time, OHID said breastfeeding rates 'are generally improving at local level in England'. However, there are disparities, with women in wealthier areas more likely to breastfeed than those in more deprived areas. Catherine Hine, chief executive of The Breastfeeding Network – which runs the helpline alongside the Association of Breastfeeding Mothers, said: 'While some callers seek help for a wider range of infant feeding challenges, we know that almost nine in 10 (89%) of callers are more confident to continue breastfeeding after contacting the helpline. 'Many women also call to talk about combination feeding, introducing solids, stopping breastfeeding and formula feeding. 'We're really excited that shifting to a 24-hour service has been so popular and that our great team are being contacted by women and families throughout the UK and with a wide variety of backgrounds and infant feeding experiences.' Minister for children and families Janet Daby said extending the helpline for 2025/26 is 'just one part of a much bigger effort to transform how families are supported'. The move forms part of wider reforms of family services, backed by £126 million in funding that will support the Family Hubs and Start for Life programme. This includes £18.5 million to improve infant feeding across 75 local authorities in England. Ms Dalton added: 'Through our Plan for Change, we're going further to ensure every child gets the best start in life. 'We've provided extra funding for local infant feeding services through the Family Hubs and Start for Life programme, where parents can access drop-in sessions for practical and emotional support.' Earlier this month, the Government also announced there will be a Best Start family hub in every local authority in England by April 2026, with £500 million targeted at disadvantaged communities. The service has been described as a 'one-stop shop' for families with children from pregnancy through to early years and beyond.
