Twice-Yearly PrEP option?

[kentfrat1783]

I was reading a POZ.com email today that I received about "Gilead Is Studying Lenacapavir as Twice-Yearly PrEP".  (Full link to article is at the bottom of this post.)

I find it interesting that the last few Peer Support Calls we have had, the topic of an injectiion every other month or even three months for PEP has been a key topic, but many of us see the hurdles of being able to accomplish this.  Even the risk of not being adherant and/or challenges to getting the next appointment/shot. 

Yes, I do see the benefit of taking a shot twice a year other then taking a pill each day, but the risk of "forgetting" to get to that next appontment for the "shot" I see has being a greater risk. 

On a positive note, this is also showing how advanced we are getting with options and we are no longer at the phase of AZT.  We can't advance without new studies but we need to remember not to skip steps and make sure it's the best option.

What are your thoughts?


https://www.poz.com/article/gilead-studying-lenacapavir-twiceyearly-prep?utm_source=Prevention+Newsletter&utm_campaign=62b121176c-01-22-2024_HIV_Prevention_Newsletter_MC&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_f0102cbee3-62b121176c-%5BLIST_EMAIL_ID%5D#lid=f0102cbee3.232b4ea336

[numbersguy82]

I tend to think that people who so proactive about their health to be on Prep in the first place, will also be responsible enough to make sure they meet these 6 mos shots. I wonder what the grace periods before/after are?

I guess I’m old school and set in my ways regarding injectables. However while I wouldn’t trust injectables with my HIV treatment, I would use them for treating my mental illness. I guess I just weigh how important my Biktarvy is on my health differently versus my lithium/prozac/seroquel. Plus missing doses of those won’t develop resistance or other dire consequences for my physical health.

[Jim Allen]

As for PrEP, I suspect it will work fine at keeping drug levels sufficient to provide an additional layer of HIV prevention, but time and these studies will tell. However, my guess would be even with somewhat less (inferior) results; it will be approved as it overcomes real-world challenges with current daily or on-demand PrEP and could increase the number of people accessing PrEP and reduce HIV numbers. 

HIV treatment is a different story; for those with multidrug resistance, it works with daily optimized ART, but still not superior results to those without resistance and taking HAART, close by no cigar. So, for the rest of us, it still needs another long-acting partner and is a long way off before it can become an injectable treatment.

Twice-Yearly Sunlenca Works Well for Initial HIV Treatment
https://forums.poz.com/index.php?topic=75017.msg

Sunlenca Plus Two Antibodies
https://forums.poz.com/index.php?topic=76904.msg

Time will tell.

[CalvinC]

I posted in Living with HIV, awhile back, about my (aborted) experience with injectables. My hiv doctor had said to wait a couple of years and let them "work the wrinkles out." I'm now following her advice.

https://forums.poz.com/index.php?topic=77023.msg783538#msg783538