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Review
. 2022 Jan 1;17(1):15-21.
doi: 10.1097/COH.0000000000000713.

Lenacapavir: a first-in-class HIV-1 capsid inhibitor

Hadas Dvory-Sobol  1 , Naveed Shaik, Christian Callebaut, Martin S Rhee
Affiliations
Review

Lenacapavir: a first-in-class HIV-1 capsid inhibitor

Hadas Dvory-Sobol et al. Curr Opin HIV AIDS. .

Abstract

Purpose of review: This review summarizes available data for lenacapavir, an investigational first-in-class agent that disrupts functioning of HIV capsid protein across multiple steps in the viral life cycle.

Recent findings: Lenacapavir demonstrated picomolar potency in vitro with no cross resistance to existing antiretroviral classes and potent antiviral activity in persons with HIV-1. In persons with HIV-1, there was no preexisting resistance to lenacapavir regardless of treatment history. Lenacapavir can be administered orally either daily or weekly and subcutaneously up to every 6 months. In heavily treatment-experienced persons with multidrug-resistant HIV-1 and in treatment-naive persons with HIV-1, lenacapavir in combination with other antiretroviral agents led to high rates of virologic suppression and was well tolerated.

Summary: Ongoing studies are evaluating long-acting dosing of lenacapavir for treating HIV-1 in combination with other antiretrovirals and preventing HIV-1 as a single agent.

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