Effectively preventing AIDS, will this drug become the terminator of AIDS?

Recently, the National Medical Products Administration approved the marketing of new drugs, lenapavir tablets and lenapavir injection, for the treatment of adult patients infected with multidrug-resistant human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). Lenapavir is the world's first-of-its-kind HIV-1 capsid inhibitor, which has the dual effects of treating and preventing HIV.

Previously, lenapavir has been approved in the EU and the US for the treatment of multidrug-resistant HIV-1 infected patients who have failed to respond to multiple treatment options. Lenapavir is available in two dosage forms: 300 mg tablets and 463.5 mg/1.5 mL injection. The injection is injected once every six months, greatly improving the patient's medication compliance.

In 2024, Gilead released two Phase III clinical reports, confirming that lenapavir has significant effects in the prevention of HIV exposure before exposure. Among them, in the trial for women, lenapavir achieved a 100% efficacy, and in the transgender population, the risk of infection in the lenapavir group decreased by 96%. This shows that lenapavir has great potential in preventing the spread of HIV.

However, the Chinese public's lack of knowledge about PrEP, coupled with factors such as stigma and self-awareness, has led to a rapid increase in the number of AIDS patients in my country. According to data from authoritative institutions, the number of surviving AIDS patients in my country has surpassed that of the United States, reaching 1.32 million, accounting for about one thousandth of the total population. In order to effectively respond to this global public health challenge, we need to have a deep understanding of the transmission routes, symptoms, diagnosis methods and prevention measures of AIDS.

AIDS, the full name of which is acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, is a serious infectious disease caused by the human immunodeficiency virus. Since it was first discovered in 1981, AIDS has caused the deaths of millions of people worldwide and has had a profound impact on many families and societies.

AIDS is mainly spread through the following three ways:

1. Transmission through sexual contact

This is the most common route of HIV transmission. Whether homosexual or heterosexual, if no protective measures are taken, they may be infected with HIV through sexual intercourse. In addition, multiple sexual partners, unsafe sexual behaviors (such as anal sex), and sharing needles for drug use are all risk factors that increase the risk of infection.

2. Blood transmission

HIV can be transmitted by transfusing blood or blood products containing HIV, using syringes, surgical instruments or other invasive medical equipment that have not been properly sterilized, and in some cases, tattoos, ear piercings, pedicures and other operations can also lead to blood transmission.

3. Mother-to-child transmission

A mother infected with HIV may pass the virus to her baby during pregnancy, birth, or while breastfeeding. This mode of transmission is called vertical transmission or perinatal transmission.

It should be noted that daily life contact, such as eating together, shaking hands, hugging, polite kissing, swimming in the same pool or bathing in a tub, etc., will not spread HIV.

HIV infection is divided into three stages: acute infection, asymptomatic latent stage and AIDS stage.

1. Acute infection

It usually occurs about 2 to 4 weeks after the initial HIV infection. The infected person may experience flu-like symptoms such as fever, headache, sore throat, rash, swollen lymph nodes, etc. Because these symptoms lack specificity, they are easily ignored or misdiagnosed.

2. Asymptomatic incubation period

During this stage, the infected person does not have any obvious clinical symptoms, but the virus in the body continues to replicate and destroy the immune system. The length of the incubation period varies from person to person, with an average of about 8 to 10 years, but there are also cases where it can last more than 20 years.

3. AIDS stage

When the immune function of the infected person is severely damaged, it will enter the AIDS stage. At this time, the patient will develop various opportunistic infections and tumors, such as Pneumocystis pneumonia, tuberculosis, Kaposi's sarcoma, etc. These complications are often difficult to cure and may eventually lead to death.

At present, the commonly used methods for AIDS diagnosis mainly include antibody testing and nucleic acid testing.

1. Antibody detection

This is the most commonly used screening method. By drawing a venous blood sample and testing for the presence of HIV antibodies, it is determined whether HIV is infected. If the preliminary test result is positive, further confirmatory tests are required to confirm the diagnosis.

2. Nucleic acid testing

For high-risk groups or patients with acute infection symptoms, direct HIV nucleic acid quantitative testing can be considered. This method can detect infection earlier, help early treatment and control the progression of the disease.

In addition to the above-mentioned laboratory tests, doctors will also make a comprehensive judgment on whether the patient has AIDS based on the patient's medical history, clinical manifestations, and other auxiliary examination results.

Although there is no specific drug to cure AIDS, we can effectively prevent its spread through a variety of measures:

1. Practicing safe sex

Using a quality condom correctly every time can effectively reduce the risk of sexual transmission. In addition, reducing the number of sexual partners can also help reduce the chance of infection.

2. Avoid unnecessary blood transfusions and use of blood products

Unless absolutely necessary, you should try to avoid receiving blood transfusions or using blood products. If you must receive a blood transfusion, make sure the blood used has undergone a rigorous screening and testing process.

3. Do not share syringes

Drug users should avoid sharing syringes and needles with others. If you cannot quit drugs, you can use disposable sterile syringes and wash your hands and injection sites thoroughly after each injection.

4. Regular physical examinations

Regular physical examinations can help detect potential signs of infection so that steps can be taken early for treatment and management.

5. Use innovative drugs

Innovative PrEP therapies, such as lenapavir and lenapavir, provide new options for preventing HIV infection. As these drugs become more widely available and used, we can expect to see a significant decline in HIV infection rates in the coming years.