New Study Shows Promising Results for Lenacapavir in HIV Treatment in Uganda

A study by Weill Cornell Medicine found minimal resistance to lenacapavir, a promising HIV therapy, in Ugandan patients. This suggests high efficacy of the drug for the 1.5 million individuals living with HIV in Uganda. The findings underscore the importance of monitoring potential drug resistance as treatment rolls out in East Africa.

A recent study spearheaded by investigators from Weill Cornell Medicine revealed that lenacapavir, a novel therapy for HIV, shows minimal natural resistance among Ugandan patients. The findings, published on January 30 in the Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, suggest that lenacapavir might become a significant addition to global HIV treatment strategies as Uganda faces a substantial HIV population of around 1.5 million individuals.

Senior author Guinevere Lee, an assistant professor of virology at Weill Cornell Medicine, stated, “Our data shows that only 1.6% of the individuals studied are living with HIV strains that have any known lenacapavir-associated resistance mutations.” This is crucial, as it indicates lenacapavir’s potential effectiveness against the prevalent strains of HIV in East Africa.

Since the 1990s, various HIV drug combinations have successfully reduced viral loads in patients to nearly undetectable levels; however, drug resistance continues to present challenges due to viral mutations. Lenacapavir distinguishes itself as the first drug capable of disrupting the protective capsid surrounding HIV’s genetic material, thereby impairing the virus’s reproduction and transmission.

The treatment regimen involving lenacapavir, administered semi-annually, has shown efficacy in both treatment-naïve individuals and those with strains resistant to other drugs. Recent clinical trials demonstrated that lenacapavir injections entirely prevented HIV infection in HIV-negative women in sub-Saharan Africa.

Nevertheless, limited data existed on pre-existing resistance to lenacapavir within under-researched HIV-1 subtypes common in Eastern and Southern Africa. In this study, researchers examined samples from 546 Ugandan patients, revealing no significant genetic mutations that would confer major resistance to lenacapavir, with only minor mutations detected in nine individuals, not sufficient to compromise the drug’s efficacy.

“Our study supports lenacapavir’s potential efficacy in this region. As lenacapavir is rolled out in East Africa, further studies will need to monitor for the emergence of drug-resistant strains,” Lee emphasized. It is vital to ensure that HIV research extends to neglected communities where unique viral strains are present.

This research was conducted with the support of grants from the National Institutes of Health. Additionally, the findings underscore the importance of targeted research in maximizing the effectiveness of HIV treatments in diverse populations.

The study establishes lenacapavir as a promising treatment option for HIV, particularly in Uganda, where minimal natural resistance was found among prevalent strains of the virus. Continued monitoring for drug resistance is essential as implementation occurs. The research emphasizes the need for HIV studies to include diverse communities to address unique viral challenges.

Original Source: news.cornell.edu