Breakthrough HIV drug trial to 'revolutionise how infection is prevented'

Gugs Mhlungu spoke to resident GP and Proactive Health Solutions CEO, Dr Fundile Nyati. 

Listen to their conversation in the audio clip below.

A new drug trial signals exciting times ahead for HIV treatment!

According to a recent article in The Conversation titled, 'HIV breakthrough: drug trial shows injection twice a year is 100% effective against infection,' a large clinical trial has shown that a twice-yearly injection of a new pre-exposure prophylaxis drug gives young women total protection from HIV infection.

"It was a study done among young women between the ages of 16 and 25 - the people who are at a very high risk."

- Dr Fundile Nyati, GP and Proactive Health Solutions CEO

The trial, which took place at three sites in Uganda and 25 sites in South Africa, had 5 000 participants.

The principal investigator for the South African part of the study, Dr Linda-Gail Bekker, explains in the article that the trial tested whether the six-month injection of lenacapavir would provide better protection against HIV infection than two other drugs, both daily pills.

All three medications are pre-exposure prophylaxis (or PrEP) drugs.

"The current methods, whilst they work, there are certain challenges with them."

- Dr Fundile Nyati, GP and Proactive Health Solutions CEO

"It's definitely going to revolutionise how HIV is being prevented."

- Dr Fundile Nyati, GP and Proactive Health Solutions CEO

"The manufacturers are looking at going to the WHO and other bodies to get approval so that this can be made to benefit people on the ground."  

- Dr Fundile Nyati, GP and Proactive Health Solutions CEO

In the last year, there were 1,3 million new infections of HIV globally.

Scroll up to listen to the full interview.