A large clinical trial in South Africa and Uganda has shown that a twice-yearly injection of a new pre-exposure prophylaxis drug gives young women total protection from HIV infection.
The trial tested whether the six-month injection of lenacapavir would provide better protection against HIV infection than two other drugs, both daily pills.
It interferes with the HIV capsid, a protein shell that protects HIV's genetic material and enzymes needed for replication.
The randomised controlled trial, sponsored by the drug developers Gilead Sciences, tested several things.
This means neither the participants nor the researchers knew which treatment participants were receiving until the clinical trial was over.
During the randomised phase of the trial none of the 2,134 women who received lenacapavir contracted HIV.
This board is an independent committee of experts who are put in place at the start of a clinical trial. »
