A Phase 2 study led by Dr. Joe Eron, chief of the Division of Infectious diseases and a member of the UNC Institute for Global Health and Infectious Diseases (IGHID), shows an investigational once‑weekly, all‑oral combination of islatravir (ISL) and lenacapavir(LEN) maintains high levels of virologic suppression through 48 weeks in adults living with HIV. Published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, the findings underscore a growing priority in HIV care: expanding access to simpler, more flexible treatment options that fit the realities of people’s lives.
For many people living with HIV, daily medication is effective but not always easy. Stigma, pill fatigue, and the day‑to‑day demands of life can make strict adherence challenging. Missed doses can increase the risk of viral rebound and drug resistance, making the need for alternative dosing schedules more important than ever. The investigational ISL+LEN regimen—taken once weekly—has the potential to address these challenges by reducing dosing frequency while maintaining strong antiviral activity.
Dr. Eron, the UNC Herman and Louise Smith Distinguished Professor of Medicine, emphasized the importance of broadening treatment choices.
“People living with HIV deserve options that work not only medically, but practically. Daily pills are effective, but they’re not the right fit for everyone. Seeing such strong suppression with a once‑weekly regimen is incredibly encouraging. It suggests we may be able to offer patients a simpler approach that still delivers the control they need.”
Read more details regarding the study on the IGHID website.