Gilead shot prevents all HIV cases in trial (bloomberg.com)

Article summary

A clinical trial for a new HIV prevention shot, lenacapavir, has shown promising results, with no cases of HIV infection among participants who received the shot. The trial involved approximately 5,300 women and female adolescents in South Africa and Uganda. The shot was compared to existing daily HIV prevention medications, including Truvada, and was found to be more effective. The trial's results suggest that the shot could be a significant breakthrough in HIV prevention.

Main themes

• HIV prevention
• Clinical trials
• Medical ethics
• Pharmaceutical development
• Global health disparities
• Vaccine efficacy

What commenters say

• The clinical trial for the new HIV prevention shot was conducted ethically, without intentionally exposing participants to HIV, and compared the shot's efficacy to existing prevention methods.
• Some commenters questioned the ethics of the trial, wondering how participants were selected and whether they were adequately compensated for their risk, but others explained that the trial was double-blind and participants were not told to alter their behavior.
• The trial's results are significant, showing that the new shot is more effective than existing daily medications, including Truvada, in preventing HIV infection.
• There are concerns about the accessibility and affordability of the new shot, particularly in low-income countries, and some commenters noted that pharmaceutical companies may prioritize profits over public health.
• The trial's success is a major breakthrough in HIV prevention, and could have a significant impact on global health, particularly in regions with high HIV prevalence.
• Some commenters drew comparisons to other pharmaceutical trials, including those for COVID-19 vaccines, and raised questions about the accuracy of reported efficacy rates and potential biases in trial design.