Long-acting, injectable drug could strengthen efforts to prevent, treat HIV

[Ptrk3]

Summary:

Scientists have developed an injectable drug that blocks HIV from entering cells. They say the new drug potentially offers long-lasting protection from the infection with fewer side effects. The drug, which was tested in non-human primates, could eventually replace or supplement components of combination drug 'cocktail' therapies currently used to prevent or treat the virus.

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Link to full story (posted in the August 21, 2020, edition of Science Daily, HIV and AIDS focus):

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/08/200821134117.htm

[fabio]

Hopefully this one gets approved....

[Loa111]

Ah yes! Love to read about long acting treatments. A shot every 3-4 months would be wonderful. Great for ones psychology too, we could almost forget we’re poz.
Hopefully another several years time we’ll be able to avail of long acting treatments be it injections or implants etc.

[MitchMiller]

A couple days ago I did a survey on an HIV med that involved an implant plus an injection every six months.  The implant was the size of a small wooden matchstick. 

So that's an option that some company is likely planning to introduce in the future.

[Loa111]

Mitch that’s very interesting & potential good news. So implant but one also would still have to get the 6 month injection too?
Would will it be 1-2 years before treatments like this finally get approved & become available or are we talking more like 5 years or 5++?

[Matths]

Hello, this has not yet made it into humans and therefore the assumption must be an ~5 years+ development until this could be suggested for a wide range of people (if all goes well). But certainly a noteworthy approach. Best Matt

[MitchMiller]

Loa:  I don't know anything about the implant beyond the questions asked in the survey.  I take surveys to earn gift cards.  There's usually one involving HIV about 3 or 4 times each year.  Companies probably want to get a feel for what HIV patients might prefer in terms of a medication before proceeding with human trials.  So I'm guessing this one also has not yet made it into humans, so it's likely a few years off.