HIV: Once-Weekly Pill As Effective As Daily Treatment, Global Study Finds
A once-weekly HIV pill combining the antiretroviral drugs islatravir and lenacapavir is as effective as a once-daily treatment. fotolgahan/E+/Getty Images A once-weekly oral HIV treatment is as effective as a widely used once-daily regimen, according to a large clinical trial. More than 93% of participants maintained viral suppression, and none experienced virological failure during the study. A…
A recent clinical trial has found that a once-weekly HIV treatment pill containing the antiretroviral drugs islatravir and lenacapavir is as effective as a widely-used once-daily regimen. The phase 3 trial, known as ISLEND-1, involved 607 adults from 12 countries and lasted for 48 weeks. Researchers compared the weekly pill to Biktarvy, a three-drug combination taken daily, and found that the weekly treatment maintained viral suppression in 93% of participants, with no one experiencing virological failure.
Adherence to the medication was nearly 99% for the weekly regimen and about 96% for the daily regimen. While both treatments were well-tolerated, about 5% of participants in each group reported serious adverse events. The weekly pill, however, does not provide protection against hepatitis B, unlike two of the drugs in the daily regimen.
Despite this limitation, the study suggests that a once-weekly HIV treatment could offer an alternative for those with HIV who have a well-controlled condition and high medication adherence.
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