Ugandan health researchers are urging the government to approve the use of Lenacapavir, a groundbreaking HIV prevention drug that has shown promising results globally.
According to Dr. Flavia Matovu Kiweewa, the director of research at Makerere University–Johns Hopkins University (MUJHU), Lenacapavir has been found to be highly effective in preventing HIV infection.
“The discovery of Lenacapavir, an HIV prevention drug, in the United States is a game changer,” Dr. Kiweewa said during a training session for journalists covering health-related topics.
Dr. Kiweewa explained that Lenacapavir is administered via injection every six months, providing a high level of protection against HIV infection, even in cases where the individual has sex with an HIV-positive partner.
“Every six months, this drug is injected into the patient to prevent infection, even if the patient has sex with an HIV-positive individual,” Dr. Kiweewa said.
Despite its promising results, Lenacapavir has not yet been approved by the Uganda National Drug Authority, a fact that Dr. Kiweewa and her colleagues are eager to change.
The development of Lenacapavir was made possible through a study conducted on 500 girls, who are disproportionately affected by HIV infection.
Dr. Kiweewa revealed that the study found that none of the girls who received the Lenacapavir injection contracted HIV.
Early results from the HIV prevention trial showed that injectable Lenacapavir given twice a year can prevent HIV infection, a finding that has sparked widespread interest in the medical community.
As the World Health Organization (WHO) works on developing guidelines for Lenacapavir’s use, scientists are optimistic that the drug could play a crucial role in ending new HIV infections by 2030.
With Lenacapavir poised to revolutionize HIV prevention, Ugandan health researchers are urging the government to take swift action to approve the drug’s use in the country
