A new HIV-preventive drug, lenacapavir, has demonstrated 100% efficacy and no safety concerns in a phase-3 trial involving young women in South Africa and Uganda. The twice-yearly injectable drug, developed by Gilead Sciences, Inc., showed zero HIV infections in the trial participants, compared to 39 and 16 infections in the groups receiving daily oral tablets Descovy and Truvada, respectively.
A personal story about the potential of DoxyPEP, a new drug that can prevent bacterial STIs, and the ongoing fight for its accessibility on the NHS in the UK. The author, a gay man in London, shares his own experience with DoxyPEP and highlights the historical parallels with the struggle for PrEP access, urging for greater awareness and action.
Grindr, the popular dating app, has partnered with PrEPster at The Tove Tank and Sexual Health London (SHL) to make STI testing more accessible and hassle-free for gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (GBTQ+) people, particularly in London, which has the highest rate of new STIs in England. The service allows users to order free self-sampling kits directly to their home while browsing the app, addressing barriers like lack of time, transportation issues, and fear of judgment associated with in-person testing.
