Twice-Yearly Injection of New Antiviral Drug Shows Promise in Protecting Young Women from H.I.V.

Exciting news emerged this week for researchers and activists striving to combat H.I.V. A groundbreaking clinical trial in Africa revealed that a new antiviral drug administered twice a year has demonstrated remarkable effectiveness in providing total protection against the virus, particularly for young women.

Reaction from Key Figures

Dr. Linda-Gail Bekker, an investigator in the trial, expressed her astonishment at the data showing zero new infections among the participants receiving the drug. She described the experience as surreal, especially considering the historical challenges in the development of H.I.V. vaccines. Meanwhile, Yvette Raphael, the leader of Advocacy for Prevention of H.I.V. and AIDS in South Africa, hailed the news as "the best ever."

The highly anticipated randomized controlled trial, known as Purpose 1, was conducted in Uganda and South Africa. It aimed to assess the efficacy of lenacaprivir, developed by Gilead Sciences, in comparison to two other widely used daily antiviral drugs in high-income countries.