MONDAY, June 24, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- Just two injections a year of a new HIV drug protected young women in Africa from infection with the sexually transmitted disease, new trial results show. In announcing the findings, Gilead Sciences Inc. said its HIV medication demonstrated 100% efficacy as a preventive treatment.
This is the first round of data generated from Gilead’s PURPOSE program, a collection of five HIV prevention trials that are being conducted around the world, the company noted. “With zero infections and 100% efficacy, twice-yearly lenacapavir has demonstrated its potential as an important new tool to help prevent HIV infections,” Gilead Chief Medical Officer , said in a announcing the results. “We look forward to additional results from the ongoing PURPOSE clinical program and continuing toward our goal of helping to end the HIV epidemic for everyone, everywhere.
” The randomized controlled trial of lenacapavir, conducted in Uganda and South Africa, tested whether two injections of lenacapavir a year would provide better protection against HIV infection than two other daily pills widely used in high-income countries. The results with lenacapavir were so convincing the trial was halted early after an independent data review committee said all participants should be offered the injection because it clearly provided superior protection against the virus, Gilead said. None of the 2,134 women who received lenacapavir contracted HIV, while 16 of the 1,06.
