Experts Hail Twice-Yearly HIV Injection as ‘Stunning’ Development’

A recent study has revealed that a twice-yearly injection is 100% effective in preventing HIV infections among women. This groundbreaking result has sparked excitement in the medical community and offers new hope in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

Study Highlights

• Participants and Results: The study included approximately 5,000 women in South Africa and Uganda. None of the women who received the bi-annual shots contracted HIV, while 2% of those taking daily prevention pills did.
• Expert Reactions: “To see this level of protection is stunning,” said Salim Abdool Karim, director of an AIDS research center in Durban, South Africa.
• Research Details: The study was funded by Gilead, the manufacturer of the injection, known as Sunlenca (lenacapavir). The research was published in the New England Journal of Medicine and discussed at an AIDS conference in Munich.

Advantages of the Injection

• High Efficacy: The injection has proven to be more effective than daily pills, which had low adherence rates.
• Ease of Use: A bi-annual shot is more convenient and less stigmatizing than daily medication, especially in regions where taking HIV prevention pills can carry social stigma.

Pricing and Accessibility

While the Sunlenca injection offers a promising solution, concerns remain about its affordability. Currently, the drug costs over $40,000 per year in the U.S. Gilead is in talks with generic manufacturers to produce a more affordable version for poorer countries. Winnie Byanyima, executive director of the U.N. AIDS agency, has urged Gilead to share the patent widely to ensure access for those who need it most.

Future Prospects

Dr. Jared Baeten, Gilead’s senior vice president of clinical development, emphasized the importance of moving quickly to make the injection widely available. Another HIV prevention shot, Apretude, is already available in some countries, priced at about $180 per patient per year.

Broader Impact

UNAIDS reports a decrease in new HIV infections globally, with significant progress in Africa. However, infections are rising in regions like Eastern Europe and Latin America. The new injection could play a crucial role in reducing infection rates further.

Andrew Hill of the University of Liverpool estimates that the price of Sunlenca could drop to $40 per treatment once production scales up. This would make it more accessible to millions of people, potentially revolutionizing HIV prevention.

“This is about as close as you can get to an HIV vaccine,” Hill stated, highlighting the significance of this development.