Successful clinical trials for two injection a year for HIV treatment, with no side effects
Big relief for HIV patients and researchers as scientists have successfully tested an injection that can be taken twice a year to treat it
In a welcome news for many, an injection that has to be given twice a year for HIV treatment without side effects has passed clinical trials. This injection for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) has successfully completed its first safety trial, said The Lancet in a recently published article.
The injection is called the Lenacapavir. It works by blocking the ability of the virus to replicate within the cells. It is worth mentioning here that if the future trials are successful the the injection Lenacapavir could be a revolution.
The injection could become one of the known longest-lasting form of HIV prevention available in the world. This would go a long way in improving the situation of the presently available treatments.
Presently however the only options available for HIV treatments is taking daily pills or injections every eight weeks to reduce their risk of contracting HIV.
Thus, the study authors reported that none of the participants who took Lenacapavir twice a year developed HIV infection. Notably, trial 1 included 5,338 participants who were initially HIV-negative. They were divided into three groups. Of these, 2,134 were given Lenacapavir injections at an interval of 26 weeks. 2,136 were given the daily pill Descovy (F/TAF). 1,068 were given the daily pill Truvada (F/TDF).
Researchers, including those at the Desmond Tutu HIV Center at the University of Cape Town in South Africa, observed a total of 55 infections. There were zero infections in the Lenacapavir group, 39 in the Desovy group, and 16 in the Truvada group.
The study said the subjects included adolescent girls and young women from South Africa and Uganda. It showed that pre-exposure prophylaxis Lenacapavir showed zero HIV infection and 100 percent efficacy.
HIV or Human Immunodeficiency Virus is spread through the body fluids of an infected person. If left untreated, the infection can turn into AIDS or Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome over the years.
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