A new yearly shot to help protect people from HIV has passed an important first test and is safe to use. Scientists say the drug lenacapavir stops HIV from making more copies of itself in cells. If it keeps working in more tests, it could be the longest lasting way to prevent HIV. Right now, people at risk of HIV can take a daily pill or get a shot every two months to stay protected. These work well, but keeping up with the doses can be hard. A once-a-year shot could make it much easier for people to stay safe. In the first test, people without HIV got one shot of lenacapavir. There were no big side effects, and the drug stayed in their bodies for over a year. Scientists think it could be a great once-a-year option to prevent HIV, but more testing is needed with different groups of people. Experts at a big 2025 health conference said they’re hopeful because a yearly shot could make HIV prevention easier for more people Early test results for lenacapavir have excited HIV support groups. Richard Angell from the Terrence Higgins Trust said a yearly shot could be a big change, just like the daily PrEP pill was. He thinks it’s amazing that the shot might last up to a year and says clinics should start getting ready now. Many people want easier ways to prevent HIV, and this could help more people stay protected
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