Achievements in the Fight Against AIDS

For more than a decade, taking a daily pill has been the only theoretically effective solution for preventing HIV (AIDS) infection. However, in practice, not everyone adheres to taking this preventive treatment regularly, according to NPR. This is especially true for women who fear their husbands or partners might suspect them of already being infected. But it seems science is finally getting closer to a more effective solution in combating this dangerous virus. A clinical trial has been launched involving 5,300 women from Uganda and South Africa to test a new treatment called Lenacapavir. This treatment is the first of its kind to be long-acting. A single injection every six months can provide protection against HIV, according to the U.S. National Institutes of Health. The new drug has already been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use as a treatment for HIV in patients who cannot be treated with other available therapies—either due to resistance, intolerance, or safety concerns when combined with other medications. The participants in the study are divided into two groups: while the first group receives the new injectable drug, the second group takes the traditional daily oral pills to prevent HIV infection. So far, not a single woman who received the injection has contracted HIV, and the drug has shown 100% efficacy, according to Science Alert. Experts have expressed excitement about the initial results. In a statement from the People’s Medicines Alliance, which includes over 100 organizations worldwide advocating for access to medicine, the organization described the new drug as a “true game-changer”, especially for people who face stigma and discrimination due to their HIV status. HIV attacks the body's white blood cells, weakening the immune system and making the body more vulnerable to serious diseases such as tuberculosis, infections, and certain types of cancer. The virus is transmitted through bodily fluids such as blood, breast milk, semen, and vaginal secretions. According to the World Health Organization, approximately 39 million people are currently living with HIV. About one-third of them—over 25 million people—live in sub-Saharan Africa. The trials of the new drug are expected to continue, with hopes that it will soon be included in the World Health Organization’s treatment guidelines for HIV.