MHE Week in Review - HIV

Experts and advocates say that twice-a-year HIV PrEP injections have the prevention potential of a vaccine — and that a once-a-year version of lenacapavir would be even better. But will Yeztugo be available to the people who would benefit most from HIV PrEP?

More than 99% effective at preventing HIV in trials, Yeztugo (lenacapavir) is now the first and only twice-yearly option for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP).

A new study found that implementing a specialty pharmacy program at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital helped more young HIV patients achieve medication adherence and undetectable viral loads.

Although some HIV programs will remain, the proposed cuts in the fiscal year 2026 budget are too severe and will hinder HIV care and research in the United States, according to Carl Schmid, executive director of the HIV+Hepatitis Policy Institute in Washington, D.C.

The results feed into an effort to identify to monoclonal antibody combinations that would prevent and possibly treat HIV infections.

Almost half (48%) of HIV patients sometimes feel unheard by their healthcare providers, which highlights a need for increased disease awareness, according to the early results of a new ViiV Healthcare survey.