A groundbreaking study published in the New England Journal of Medicine reveals that Lenacapavir, administered twice a year, offers 100% protection against HIV infections in women and girls. The Phase 3 trial, conducted in Africa, involved over 5,000 HIV-negative participants, all of whom remained free from the virus. This study presents a significant advancement over daily pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) pills like Truvada. The PURPOSE 1 trial, a double-blind study, compared Lenacapavir injections every 26 weeks with daily HIV medications, including emtricitabine-tenofovir alafenamide and emtricitabine-tenofovir disoproxil fumarate. No infections occurred in the Lenacapavir group, while 55 total infections were recorded in the other groups. Linda-Gail Bekker from the Desmond Tutu HIV Center praised the results, noting that the shots could offer a highly effective, discreet alternative to daily pills. However, experts and researchers like Dr. Dan Barouch, director of the Center for Virology and Vaccine Research at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, and Dr. Jason Zucker of Columbia University Irving Medical Center stressed further study and the limited accessibility of the drug. People’s Medicines Alliance urged the drug manufacturer to ensure that this groundbreaking medicine is equally accessible to people from both the Global South and the Global North. The results from additional trials, including PURPOSE 2, are awaited to assess the drug’s efficacy in a broader population. #Queer Up Health