CNN —A drug currently used to treat HIV has also been found to dramatically reduce the risk of infection, significantly more than the primary option available for pre-exposure prophylaxis or PrEP.
In a Phase 3 clinical trial, 99.9% of participants who took a twice-a-year injection of lenacapavir for HIV prevention did not acquire an infection, according to data from drugmaker Gilead Sciences.
There were only two cases among 2,180 patients – effectively reducing the risk of HIV infection by 96% and proving 89% more effective than Truvada, a pill taken once a day.
It’s a “significant breakthrough in HIV prevention,” according to a news release from the World Health Organization in July.
Gilead said it will use these trial data to start the drug approval process in multiple countries by the end of the year.
Persons:
lenacapavir, ”, Onyema Ogbuagu, Dr, Sanjay Gupta, It’s, Gilead
Organizations:
CNN, Gilead Sciences, Yale, Research, CNN Health, World Health Organization
Locations:
Gilead, Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Peru, South Africa, Thailand, United States, Africa