Breakthrough Clinical Trial Results
Recent phase 3 studies have delivered striking results, particularly for HIV prevention (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis, or PrEP):
- In the PURPOSE 1 trial of cisgender women in sub-Saharan Africa and Uganda, twice-yearly lenacapavir injections resulted in zero HIV infections observed among participants receiving the drug during an interim analysis — an outcome described as 100% efficacy within that trial group. Based on these findings, the independent monitoring committee recommended stopping the blinded phase of the study. (Gilead Sciences)
- In a broader Phase 3 study known as PURPOSE 2, lenacapavir also performed exceptionally well across diverse populations, showing a 96% reduction in HIV incidence and achieving nearly 99.9% protection among participants in the lenacapavir group. (Gilead Sciences)
These results suggest lenacapavir may offer some of the strongest protection ever seen in HIV prevention trials — particularly noteworthy given that traditional oral PrEP relies on daily adherence, which can be challenging for many people. (Organisation mondiale de la santé)
