One million people are infected with HIV every year. Antiretroviral drugs are available – but a vaccine is still far away.
Researchers are now hopeful that the drug lenacapavir will significantly reduce the number of infected people when used as preventive treatment, known as PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis).
It has potential, if we can do it the right way, which means investing heavily and getting it out on the market, says Linda-Gail Bekker, who led one of the studies for the manufacturer Gilead Sciences.
Most effective form
The drug has been on the market for two years and now studies show that it appears to be the most effective form of PrEP.
Lenacapavir is administered in injectable form every six months. In a large efficacy study – involving African teenage girls and young women – HIV infections were reduced to zero. In a similar study conducted on four continents – involving people who have sex with men – the effect was 99.9 percent.
But it remains to be seen if lenacapavir can accelerate the end of the HIV and AIDS epidemic. It depends on availability, delivery, demand, and approval from drug authorities.
Bubble to the nomination
The magazine also highlights bubbles to the nomination. Here are three of them:
New RNA-based pest control used in agriculture. It should not kill harmless species, but be specifically targeted at a specific gene in the intended pest.
NASA's studies of ancient galaxy light using the JWST telescope – to get closer to the answer of what the early life of galaxies looked like.
Success in clinical trials with CAR-T therapy's effect on B cells (a type of immunotherapy). It is used for autoimmune diseases such as MS, SLE (systemic lupus erythematosus), and scleroderma.
