U.S. health officials express high hopes for ‘breakthrough’ HIV drug
Health officials on Thursday said they are optimistic about a relatively new HIV antiviral medication called lenacapavir that they hope will reach 2 million people by 2028.
Members of the medical community are calling the drug a “breakthrough” and a “gamechanger.” According to State Department officials making the announcement, developers intend to target countries with high HIV/AIDS rates and will focus on slowing or eliminating mother-to-child transmissions.
Lenacapavir, the initial development of which was funded by the National Institutes of Health, is injected twice a year, and has kept 99% of users HIV free in clinical trials, the State Department officials said.
The drug has been approved for use in the United States since 2022.
“The drug has the potential to be particularly helpful for pregnant and breastfeeding mothers as it safely protects them during and after pregnancy to prevent mother-to-child transmissions,” a State Department release said.
The announcement follows moves by the Trump administration to reduce the amount of international aid provided by the federal government, including USAID, some of which was used to provide money for AIDS research and eradication in disease-prone countries.
According to officials making the announcement about promoting lenacapavir overseas, research has shown that patients prefer the convenience of a twice-yearly injection, which they say has the added advantage of reducing costs to initiate and deliver the treatment.
Scientists have said the drug could end the global HIV epidemic. There are currently more than 31 million people receiving HIV/AIDS treatments worldwide.
Health officials said lenacapavir could be available in Africa and other countries with high HIV/AIDS rates later this year or early next following approval by African health agencies.
The Food and Drug Administration, World Health Organization and European Medicines Agency already have approved it.
The cost could be as low as $100 per person per year, officials said.