A new HIV prevention shot administered just twice a year has achieved remarkable results, offering complete protection against the virus. In a recent study, none of the 5,000 young women and girls in South Africa and Uganda who received the injections contracted HIV. This contrasts sharply with the roughly 2% infection rate observed among those who used daily prevention pills.
Promising Study Results
Published in the New England Journal of Medicine and discussed at an AIDS conference in Munich, the study’s findings have been described as groundbreaking. Researchers observed that the twice-yearly injection, produced by Gilead Sciences and branded as Sunlenca, provided a 100% protection rate against HIV. The study was so successful that it was halted early to offer the shots to all participants. This development could significantly impact the global fight against HIV, particularly in regions with high infection rates.
Salim Abdool Karim, director of an AIDS research center in Durban, South Africa, praised the results, stating, “To see this level of protection is stunning.” He was not involved in the research but emphasized the potential of this breakthrough.
How the Shot Works
Sunlenca, also known as lenacapavir, is already approved for HIV treatment in the U.S., Canada, Europe, and other regions. The trial aimed to test its effectiveness as a preventive measure for adolescent girls and young women. The study revealed that while daily pills like Gilead’s Truvada or Descovy had an infection rate of 1.5% to 1.8%, the new injections provided flawless protection.
Challenges with Current Prevention Methods
Daily prevention pills have been a key tool in HIV prevention, but their effectiveness can be hindered by adherence issues. In the study, only about 30% of participants consistently took the daily pills, and this rate declined over time. The convenience of a twice-yearly injection addresses this adherence problem, making it a revolutionary option for many people at risk.
Global Implications and Accessibility
Despite the promising results, there is concern about the cost and accessibility of Sunlenca. In the U.S., the drug costs over $40,000 per year, a price that is prohibitive for many in lower-income countries. There is a growing call for Gilead to reduce the price or allow wider production through a voluntary licensing program to make the drug more affordable globally.
Dr. Helen Bygrave from Doctors Without Borders highlighted the potential impact, stating, “Lenacapavir could reverse the epidemic if it is made available in the countries with the highest rate of new infections.” The U.N. AIDS agency has also urged Gilead to collaborate with programs that facilitate affordable drug production for poorer countries.
Future Prospects
The success of Sunlenca has been likened to the discovery of early AIDS treatments that transformed HIV from a death sentence into a manageable condition. Similar to past breakthroughs, there is hope that this new shot could dramatically reduce HIV rates, especially among high-risk groups such as women and girls facing domestic violence and gay men in countries where same-sex relationships are criminalized.
As production expands, costs are expected to drop. Andrew Hill from the University of Liverpool estimates that if Sunlenca reaches 10 million users, the price could fall to about $40 per treatment. The urgency now is to ensure that this promising tool reaches those who need it most, to help turn the tide against HIV.
