Gilead And Merck Announce Encouraging New Findings, In Treating Longer Term HIV Infections...

This is good news, to be certain. But it is unlikely to be material, near term -- for either company, as so many are already on this therapy combo. [We've covered the victories in HIV treatments, since 2012 -- and here is one of our 2021-era backgrounders, on the progress for this combo therapy.] This trial result paves the way for weekly, rather thsn daily dosings.

There was a time -- which persisted for nearly three decades (from 1980 onward) -- when an HIV+ diagnosis was. . . nearly certainly, a death sentence. And more often that not, a slow, painful, debilitating spiral-down -- into a walking skeleton (as anyone of that age can attest, as to friends and loved ones).

But that time has ended. We are very lucky to be alive in the era of engineered human protein / monoclonal antibody therapies -- now increasingly tailored to individuals' unique disease manifestation factors, and other ailments profiles. Here's the latest, from Yahoo! news:

. . .At 48 weeks, the novel investigational combination maintained a high rate (n=49; 94.2%) of viral suppression (HIV-1 RNA <50 copies/mL) in virologically suppressed adults, a secondary endpoint of the study. Zero participants had a viral load of ≥50 copies/mL at Week 48. Week 24 results, including the study’s primary endpoint, were previously presented at the 31st Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI). . . .

"The future of HIV treatment is person-centered, with long-acting options tailored to help meet the needs and preferences of people affected by HIV," said Jared Baeten, MD, PhD, Senior Vice President, Virology Therapeutic Area Head, Gilead Sciences. "There is no ‘one size fits all’ approach. . . .

The complexities of HIV care require putting people first in the development of biomedical innovations as we keep striving to offer options for all those living with HIV. These data presented at IDWeek demonstrate our commitment to continuous scientific discovery aimed at further transforming the HIV treatment landscape. . . ."

Treatment-related-adverse events (TRAEs), as attributed by study investigator, were experienced by 19.2% of participants (n=10/52) in the ISL + LEN group and the most common were dry mouth (n=2/52; 3.8%) and nausea (n=2/52; 3.8%). . . .

The side effects can still be daunting, but people live long, happy and productive lives now -- decades and decades after diagnosis. The magnitude of this leap forward in bio-science cannot be overstated.

Onward, smiling -- with the Oregon Ducks to be the No. 1 team in the nation, when they host the Illini in Eugene, this weekend. And Buffs now go back home, to meet a potentially dangerous Cincy team, in Boulder Saturday night. Grin.

नमस्ते