Lenacapavir new antiretroviral drug for multi drug resistant HIV infection approved by USFDA

New anti-retroviral drug Lenacapavir approved by USFDA for treatment of multi drug resistant HIV 1 infection.

On 22-Dec-2022 United States Food and Drug administration approved a new drug for treatment of HIV-1 infection, for patients where other drugs were developing drug resistance (Multi drug resistance). Name of Drug approved by the US FDA is Sunlenca which contains lenacapavir and is manufactured by Gilead Sciences.

Lenacapavir is a capsid protein coat synthesis inhibitor it blocks formation of capsid of HIV and prevents its growth. It acts by hampering protein synthesis, while other drugs of class nucleoside reverse-transcriptase inhibitors come with drug resistance, therefore patients exposed with heavy treatment develop multi drug resistance making other drugs ineffective against HIV -1, while lenacapavir in combination with other AVRS like emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide/ + Lenacapavir  tenofovir alafenamide or bictegravir + Lenacapavir provides better results, some patients exhibited HIV viral RNA to undetectable level.

HIV 1 drugs medicines have evolved in to very effective drug regimens, which are currently able to provide lifesaving treatment for HIV infection, still there are few instances that some patients HIV develop resistance for other drugs, making it difficult. Also the drugs are required to be taken regularly on a daily basis on regular intervals, while this medication approved in 14 days’ tablets along with subcutaneous injection every 6 months, along with other AVR medicines, the viral load of patients were found to be reduced to undetectable level.

The drug Sunlenca (lenacapavir) is manufactured by Gilead Sciences. The drug Sunlenca (lenacapavir) is also used for pre-exposure  prophylaxis PrEP drug, in people with high risk of getting HIV infection through risky behaviors. In the clinical trial it was found that the HIV-1 viral load was reduced to undetectable levels in patients who exhibited Multi drug resistance to Antiretroviral medicines.

Source: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2115542?query=featured_home