Twice-yearly subcutaneous prophylaxis prevents 100% of HIV infections in Africa

This study is a real and important milestone in the history of HIV prevention for several reasons. Firstly because it was the first to evaluate subcutaneous lenacapavir as prophylaxis, but also because it is the only one to date to test TAF prophylaxis in cis women.

The results also drew attention to the protective power of lenacapavir, which was responsible in an unprecedented way for simply eliminating new infections in the study group.

Lenacapavir is also being studied in populations of gay and bisexual men, trans people and non-binary people in another study called PURPOSE 2, in which Brazil is participating along with Argentina, Mexico, Peru, South Africa, Thailand and the United States.

In this second study, more than 3,000 participants recruited since 2019 are receiving PrEP or subcutaneous PrEP in the form of daily pills, and interim analysis of HIV preventive efficacy data collected is scheduled for the second half of 2024.

After the release of the Purpose 2 results, it will be up to regulatory bodies in Brazil (Anvisa) and around the world to evaluate the licensing of these new forms of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). From here, the eternal struggle to expand access to the populations that will benefit most from this ban will begin.

This is why this week is a week of celebration for global co-prevention, as new ways to prevent HIV will soon become part of the range of effective preventive measures.