A study by Weill Cornell Medicine found minimal resistance to lenacapavir, a new HIV therapy, among Ugandans. Conducted with 546 treatment-naive patients, the study indicated only 1.6% had resistance mutations. Lenacapavir, which disrupts HIV’s capsid layer, may significantly contribute to controlling HIV in Uganda, which has around 1.5 million affected individuals.
A recent multinational study, conducted by researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine, has revealed minimal natural resistance to the new HIV therapy, lenacapavir, among patients in Uganda. Published in the Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, the findings contribute to the evidence that lenacapavir could become a significant component in combating HIV globally, particularly in Uganda, where approximately 1.5 million individuals are living with the virus.
The research, led by Guinevere Lee, demonstrates that only 1.6% of participants exhibited strains of HIV with known mutations linked to lenacapavir resistance. This finding is crucial as it indicates the likelihood of lenacapavir being effective against prevalent HIV strains in East Africa. The drug functions differently from existing therapies by disrupting the capsid layer surrounding HIV’s RNA, effectively blocking the virus’s reproduction and transmission.
Lenacapavir has shown efficacy when administered biannually to both treatment-naive patients and those with resistant HIV strains. Previous clinical trials confirmed its 100% effectiveness in preventing HIV infections among HIV-negative women in sub-Saharan Africa. However, prior to this study, limited data existed concerning the resistance of less-studied HIV-1 subtypes A1 and D that dominate in eastern and southern Africa.
The research team performed genetic sequencing on the capsid proteins from HIV-1 subtypes A1 and D, involving 546 Ugandan patients who had not previously undergone antiretroviral treatment. The analysis showed that none of the subjects possessed significant mutations resulting in major resistance to lenacapavir. Only minor mutations were identified in nine individuals, which may slightly affect the drug’s efficacy but do not lead to complete resistance.
This study substantiates lenacapavir’s potential effectiveness in Uganda and highlights the necessity for ongoing monitoring as the medication becomes more widely available in East Africa. It is imperative to ensure that HIV research includes communities where unique viral variants exist, to properly address the evolving epidemic. The research received support from grants provided by the National Institutes of Health.
In summary, the study indicates that lenacapavir may be a promising treatment for HIV in Uganda, demonstrating minimal resistance among local strains. The findings underscore the importance of continuous research and monitoring in underrepresented populations to effectively combat HIV. As lenacapavir is introduced into the East African region, vigilance regarding the emergence of drug-resistant variants is crucial.
Original Source: news.cornell.edu
