The FDA has approved Lenacapavir, a twice-yearly injection that shows over 99.9% effectiveness in preventing HIV.
This medication, marketed under the brand name “Yeztugo,” is the first and only HIV prevention option offering six months of protection.
Daniel O’Day, Gilead’s chairman and chief executive, said in a statement: “This is a historic day in the decades-long fight against HIV.” Lenacapavir’s power to prevent infection lies in its ability to disrupt the virus’s capsid, which prevents viral replication for about six months.
The effectiveness of this groundbreaking treatment was demonstrated in two clinical trials called PURPOSE 1 and PURPOSE 2, which were published last year in peer-reviewed journals.
According to experts, this advancement could revolutionize HIV prevention and adds to the growing range of HIV prevention options.
