Latest news with #Lenacapavir
Forbes
01-05-2025
- Health
- Forbes
Why A Single Drug Could Change Everything For HIV And AIDS
CHENGDU, CHINA - DECEMBER 1: (CHINA OUT) A migrant worker wears a red ribbon during an event ... More organized by the local government to promote HIV/AIDS knowledge among migrant workers . (Photo by) A twice-yearly injection of a drug known as Sunlenca offered 100% protection against HIV among young women and girls in South Africa and Uganda, according to research published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Over 5,000 girls participated in the study, with participants receiving either the twice-yearly shot or an oral pill for HIV prevention. Of those receiving the oral pill, 2% eventually acquired HIV from infected sex partners. The study did not examine what the effect of Sunlenca would be on men. The twice-yearly shot is manufactured by U.S. drug maker Gilead and is sold as Sunlenca (Lenacapavir), but only to treat HIV, not prevent it. If found to prevent HIV infection with 100% efficacy in men too, the drug could be a huge game-changer for HIV and AIDS. Here is why. The drug operates differently from most HIV medications that usually target enzymes. Sunlenca, on the other hand, targets the HIV capsid which is a protein shell that encases the virus's genetic material. This allows the drug to interfere with multiple stages of the HIV life cycle, including but not limited to the virus's ability to assemble new viral particles, replicate and enter cells. This unique mechanism of action plays a huge role in its success to prevent the HIV virus from proliferating in a person's body. The drug is also long-acting and is injected as opposed to taken orally. This has many advantages, since taking daily oral pills can be difficult for most patients. In one study, the median rate of compliance in taking an oral pill for HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis among men was just about 64%, highlighting a major barrier in HIV prevention. Many patients on drugs for any reason struggle with the burden of taking daily pills, leading to missed doses and suboptimal treatment for their specific disease. Sunlenca's twice-yearly dose regimen eases compliance to treatment and could potentially lead to very low if not zero rates of HIV infection in the future if it were ever recommended for prevention. Sunlenca also has the potential to mitigate the stigma and psychological toll of patients that have or may be at high risk of getting HIV. Taking daily oral pills to treat or prevent HIV can act as a constant reminder of HIV for an individual, a viral infection acquired primarily through sexual contact or sharing of needles. HIV stigma refers to the negative beliefs and attitudes regarding people with HIV, which include but are not limited to judging people who are taking steps to prevent HIV or treating them differently. A twice-yearly injection can reduce this stigma, allowing people to live more normal lives without the constant reminder of their HIV status. Finally, Sunlenca can have broader implications for public health. Globally, there are approximately 40 million people living with HIV, according to Kaiser Family Foundation. Imagine a world where people can take an injection once every six months, and not worry about ever contracting the virus. This could be a reality if Sunlenca is shown to prevent HIV in a broader population, as it already has shown to be 100% effective among young girls in South Africa and Uganda. Although more thorough research and testing will be needed, Sunlenca could be a game-changer for HIV prevention. It offers a much needed hope for the millions around the world who could potentially prevent getting HIV altogether.
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Women offered jabs in HIV prevention trial
A six-monthly injection to reduce the risk of HIV transmission is being offered to sexually active women in parts of England as part of a new clinical study. The study will be carried out in France and the UK, with centres in Birmingham, Manchester, London and Brighton. The trial will offer participants a new, twice-yearly injectable PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) medicine called Lenacapivir. PrEP is currently offered on the NHS as a daily tablet which, if taken correctly, significantly reduces the risk of HIV in people likely to be exposed to the virus. Dr Steve Taylor, a principal investigator for the Purpose 5 trial and Clinical Service Lead for the Birmingham Heartlands HIV service, said: "These injectable PrEP technologies have the potential to transform HIV prevention efforts in the UK and the wider world". He said that in Africa, the Purpose 1 Trial was 100% effective with none of the 2,134 women given Lenacapavir becoming HIV positive. Dr Taylor added: "Its aim is to determine whether the injections provide additional benefit as an HIV prevention strategy, and would be an attractive and acceptable option for women." Women are being invited to take part as they are far less likely to take PrEP tablets to reduce their HIV risk. Government figures found that 75% of men who have sex with men, who were identified as having a need for PrEP by NHS sexual health services in England, had started or continued to take it in 2023. Fewer than 4% of all PrEP prescriptions in the UK are for women. However, women who have sex with men now account for the highest proportion of new HIV diagnoses in England. This group accounted for 46% of all new HIV transmissions through sex in England in 2023. Men who have sex with men accounted for 28%, and men who have sex with women 26% Eligible participants in the study receive either a daily pill or the new six-monthly injection. The trial will last a minimum of two years and will require around four clinic visits a year. Dan Hartland, chief executive of West Midlands HIV support charity Saving Lives, said: "Injectable, long-acting PrEP is a major advance in the field of HIV prevention, particularly for women. If we are to achieve the government target to eliminate new HIV transmissions by 2030, we need a combination approach of testing, treatment and preventative tools." Dr Taylor asked women interested in participating in the Birmingham trial to email the team before the end of April. Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. Annual jab for HIV protection passes trial hurdle Preventative HIV drug highly effective, study says Sussex launches new online HIV medication service Birmingham Heartlands HIV Service Saving Lives Purpose Studies
BBC News
18-04-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Women offered jabs in HIV prevention trial
A six-monthly injection to reduce the risk of HIV transmission is being offered to sexually active women in parts of England as part of a new clinical study will be carried out in France and the UK, with centres in Birmingham, Manchester, London and Brighton. The trial will offer participants a new, twice-yearly injectable PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) medicine called Lenacapivir. PrEP is currently offered on the NHS as a daily tablet which, if taken correctly, significantly reduces the risk of HIV in people likely to be exposed to the virus. Dr Steve Taylor, a principal investigator for the Purpose 5 trial and Clinical Service Lead for the Birmingham Heartlands HIV service, said: "These injectable PrEP technologies have the potential to transform HIV prevention efforts in the UK and the wider world".He said that in Africa, the Purpose 1 Trial was 100% effective with none of the 2,134 women given Lenacapavir becoming HIV positive. Dr Taylor added: "Its aim is to determine whether the injections provide additional benefit as an HIV prevention strategy, and would be an attractive and acceptable option for women." Women are being invited to take part as they are far less likely to take PrEP tablets to reduce their HIV risk. Government figures found that 75% of men who have sex with men, who were identified as having a need for PrEP by NHS sexual health services in England, had started or continued to take it in 2023. Fewer than 4% of all PrEP prescriptions in the UK are for women. However, women who have sex with men now account for the highest proportion of new HIV diagnoses in England. This group accounted for 46% of all new HIV transmissions through sex in England in 2023. Men who have sex with men accounted for 28%, and men who have sex with women 26%Eligible participants in the study receive either a daily pill or the new six-monthly injection. The trial will last a minimum of two years and will require around four clinic visits a year. Dan Hartland, chief executive of West Midlands HIV support charity Saving Lives, said: "Injectable, long-acting PrEP is a major advance in the field of HIV prevention, particularly for women. If we are to achieve the government target to eliminate new HIV transmissions by 2030, we need a combination approach of testing, treatment and preventative tools."Dr Taylor asked women interested in participating in the Birmingham trial to email the team before the end of April. Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Forbes
09-04-2025
- Health
- Forbes
At The Brink Of Eradicating HIV, America Retreats From Heroism To Hesitation
Woman with Child What an extraordinary moment in medical history: science has handed us the superpower to eradicate HIV/AIDS. Lenacapavir, a once-a-year injection, can treat HIV, prevent transmission, and stop new infections—all with a single shot. This breakthrough opens the door to eliminating HIV from humanity entirely. Yet, instead of seizing this opportunity, the United States retreats from its global leadership role in infectious disease control. In a cruel twist of irony, we have the tools to become heroes, but instead, we have obstructionists and architects of missed opportunities in our government. Lenacapavir is no ordinary drug. It represents a leap in HIV prevention and treatment. Recent clinical trials have demonstrated near-perfect efficacy: zero infections among participants who received the injection compared to expected rates without intervention. It slashed the risk of HIV acquisition by 96%. This is not just a treatment; it's a weapon capable of eradicating HIV globally. Unlike daily pills or twice-yearly injections, lenacapavir's annual dose simplifies adherence and makes it accessible even in regions with limited healthcare infrastructure. It's as easy as getting a flu shot—except this one could end an epidemic that has claimed millions of lives. This isn't science fiction or wishful thinking. We've seen similar feats achieved before. Egypt recently eradicated hepatitis C in under a year by combining bold public health strategies with cutting-edge medicine. Egypt has diagnosed 87% of people living with hepatitis C and provided curative treatment to 93% of those diagnosed, far exceeding WHO targets. They didn't have limitless resources; they relied on loans from the World Bank and decisive action. In less than three years, Egypt implemented a comprehensive testing program and tested 60 million people for the hepatitis C virus. If Egypt can do it with hepatitis C, why can't we do it with HIV? The answer lies not in science but in politics. Instead of rallying behind this breakthrough, the U.S. is pulling back infectious disease programming at a critical juncture. Under Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Secretary of Health and Human Services, key programs like the Office of Infectious Diseases and HIV Policy have been dismantled. These cuts threaten to reverse decades of progress and disproportionately harm marginalized communities already at higher risk for HIV infection. The timing couldn't be worse. Science magazine recently named lenacapavir its 'Breakthrough of the Year,' highlighting its potential to transform global health outcomes. Yet, while researchers are delivering miracles, policymakers are undermining them. The juxtaposition is stark: we can end HIV, but we're choosing not to act. Imagine what could be achieved if we embraced this opportunity instead of retreating. With lenacapavir as our cornerstone, we could launch a global campaign to eliminate HIV entirely: These steps aren't hypothetical but achievable with political will and coordinated action. The World Health Organization is already preparing guidelines for global implementation, but success depends on nations stepping up to prioritize eradication. Critics may point to challenges like manufacturing costs or cold-chain storage requirements for lenacapavir. Still, these hurdles pale in comparison to the stakes: ending an epidemic that has devastated lives for over four decades. The choice is clear: embrace this historic moment or squander it through inaction. Lenacapavir offers hope for ending HIV/AIDS worldwide—a chance to rewrite history and save millions of lives. But hope alone isn't enough; it requires leadership, investment, and commitment. America must decide whether it wants to be remembered as the nation that eradicated one of history's deadliest epidemics or as the one that let it persist despite having the power to stop it. Science has delivered; now, it's up to us to act decisively or face the consequences of our failure.
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Multiple Tailwinds Lifted Gilead Sciences (GILD) in Q1
ClearBridge Investments, an investment management company, released its 'ClearBridge Value Strategy' first quarter 2025 investor letter. A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. In the first quarter, the strategy underperformed its Russell 1000 Value benchmark, driven by detractors in the energy and financials, overcame contributions from overweight to energy and underweight to IT. In addition, please check the fund's top five holdings to know its best picks in 2025. In its first quarter 2025 investor letter, ClearBridge Value Strategy emphasized stocks such as Gilead Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:GILD). Gilead Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:GILD) is a biopharmaceutical company. The one-month return of Gilead Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:GILD) was -9.47%, and its shares gained 51.48% of their value over the last 52 weeks. On April 8, 2025, Gilead Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:GILD) stock closed at $103.19 per share with a market capitalization of $128.64 billion. ClearBridge Value Strategy stated the following regarding Gilead Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:GILD) in its Q1 2025 investor letter: "Health care stocks populated our top performers for the quarter. Biopharmaceutical company Gilead Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:GILD) announced strong fourth-quarter earnings growth and also rose both on news that its HIV prevention treatment drug Lenacapavir had been filed for U.S. approval, with an anticipated launch scheduled for mid-2025, and on positive reception to its cirrhosis of the liver treatment Livdelzi in its first full quarter." A physician and a patient having a discussion in a hospital about biopharmaceutical medicines. Gilead Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:GILD) is not on our list of 30 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds. As per our database, 74 hedge fund portfolios held Gilead Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:GILD) at the end of the fourth quarter compared to 59 in the third quarter. While we acknowledge the potential of Gilead Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:GILD) as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns, and doing so within a shorter timeframe. If you are looking for an AI stock that is as promising as NVIDIA but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock. We covered Gilead Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:GILD) in another article, where we shared the list of most undervalued biotech stocks to invest in. In addition, please check out our hedge fund investor letters Q1 2025 page for more investor letters from hedge funds and other leading investors. READ NEXT: Michael Burry Is Selling These Stocks and A New Dawn Is Coming to US Stocks. Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.
