Scientists at the 10th International AIDS Society Conference on HIV Science (IAS 2019) in Mexico City have unveiled a new implant that allows patients the protection of PrEP for a year without having to take oral medication.
Pharmaceutical company MSD announced the new implant known as Islatravir. Doctors implant it under the skin of a patient’s arm where it administers a small, steady dose of a drug cocktail that blocks the transmission and seroconversion of HIV.
PrEP has become widely prescribed in the past several years as a means of HIV prevention. Recent estimates say that 35% of gay and bisexual men at high risk of HIV infection participate in the drug regimen which involves a once-a-day dose of HIV drug Truvada as well as regular medical checkups and STI testing. Some patients report trouble remembering to take the daily dose, which can result in reduced efficacy.
Related: Get PrEPped: Generic Truvada coming to the market in 2020
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A once-a-year implant would offer a major benefit to patients unable or unwilling to take a daily pill. “Islatravir could be a game-changer for HIV prevention. PrEP is already extraordinarily effective at preventing HIV,” said Matthew Hodson, director of the HIV awareness group NAM in the UK. “I’m enthusiastic about Islatravir’s potential to make it easier for people to go on PrEP, and maintain levels of drug in the body necessary to provide protection for a year, without additional dosing.”
He added: “Taking PrEP as an annual implant would mean that adherence would largely cease to be a concern. It also offers a more discreet option for people who are fearful of being stigmatized for their PrEP use, including younger gay and bi men who may be living with family or others who don’t know about their sexuality.”
The results come following a study of Islatravir on 12 healthy adults. The implant has yet to receive approval for patient use by the FDA.
1898
how big would the implant have to be to deliver a year’s worth of Truvada? the pills aren’t exactly small
AlexanderRogers1519
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radiooutmike
It would not be large at all. Therapy drugs implanted directly into the blood stream are way more efficient than oral medication. Most of what makes a pill a pill is binders and buffers for the medication.
Think of it this way. A standard paper clip weighs almost a half of a gram (0.5g = 500mg). A caplet of Extra-Strength Tylenol is dosed at 500mg, but the caplet weighs several times more than that. Things get a little more complicated when you start adding potency or bio-availability.
So an implant would be the way to go.
ConnorBryant1658
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1898
@radiooutmike I have a digital scale that is accurate down to 1/100th of a gram. I just put an extra strength Tylenol caplet on it and it weighs 556mg, which is pretty darn close to 500mg. where are these super heavy Tylenol caplets you’re finding? lol
Walker
I thought this was actually about the actual “biggest problem,” which is the bone issues people are now discovering…
Kangol2
@Walker, would please you say a bit more about the “bone” issue? Is PrEP causing early onset osteoporesis or something other bone issues?
fur_hunter
I find it VERY interesting that no mention was made as to COST!!!!!. HOW MUCH????? Will insurance pay for it? HELL NO!!!! When THAT information becomes available, I will comment further.