EMORY UNIVERSITY

Twice-yearly injection of Sunlenca (lenacapavir) reduces HIV infection risk by 96%, outperforming daily oral PrEP pills like Truvada, according to a clinical trial in the New England Journal of Medicine. The injection, administered every six months, offers significant advantages for those with limited access to daily medication or difficulty adhering to a daily regimen.

A twice-yearly injection of Lenacapavir offers a 96% reduced risk of HIV infection, significantly more effective than daily oral PrEP like Truvada®, according to a Gilead-funded clinical trial led by Emory University and Grady Health System. Published in the New England Journal of Medicine, the study found 99% of participants in the Lenacapavir group remained HIV-free, compared to 99.2% in the Truvada® group. The trial highlighted the challenges of adherence to daily oral PrEP, emphasizing the potential of injectables for populations with limited access to healthcare.

A twice-yearly injection, Lenacapavir, is significantly more effective than daily oral PrEP in preventing HIV, offering 96% protection if taken every 6 months. The drug was 89% better than oral PrEP in a clinical trial, with adherence being a key factor in its efficacy.

Astellas Pharma received a Complete Response Letter from the FDA for avacincaptad pegol, while Aldeyra Therapeutics' topical reproxalap for dry eye disease had its NDA accepted. Dr. Valerie Biousse discussed the benefits of non-mydriatic fundus cameras in emergency departments, enabling remote diagnosis and reducing ED length of stay. Dr. Jonathan Brugger highlighted the correlation between energy drink consumption and retinal vein occlusions in young adults.

The Southwest Forum on Difficult to Treat Depression, chaired by Jordan F. Karp, MD, convened experts to discuss novel mechanisms, evidence-informed algorithms, and access to comprehensive depression care. Topics included advanced treatments like brain stimulation and neurosteroids, challenges in late-life depression, digital mental health treatments, and the role of biomarkers in precision psychiatry. The forum emphasized the need for equitable access and personalized medicine to improve outcomes in treatment-resistant depression.

Preeclampsia, a major contributor to U.S. maternal mortality, now has an FDA-cleared blood-based biomarker test for risk assessment. Personalized medicine in prenatal care, including new tests for preterm birth and gestational diabetes, hinges on reimbursement for broader market access. Legislative efforts are crucial; biomarker testing benefits range from preeclampsia to cancer. Dr. Thomas McElrath emphasizes the need for reimbursement to avoid stifling innovation. Georgia's HB 85 supports preeclampsia testing, and ACOG encourages its use. The test improves health economics by reducing NICU rates and maternal hospitalization, critical for financially vulnerable hospitals. Personalized medicine, essential for maternal health, requires collaboration among clinicians, lawmakers, and patients.

New at-home tests can simultaneously detect flu and COVID, offering quicker results and aiding in timely treatment decisions.

GATC West Virginia, headquartered at WVU Innovation Corp., is advancing medical innovation with a live working lab and AI-driven drug development. They aim to reduce the 4-6 year drug creation process to 12 months, improve success rates from 5-10% to 90%, and synthesize their own cells for pre-clinical testing. GATC is also partnering with WVU and Marshall for drug development research and has potential treatments for opioid use disorder and PTSD in the pipeline.

Clemens Scherzer, a leader in Parkinson’s disease research, was appointed the Stephen and Denise Adams Professor of Neurology at Yale, effective Jan. 1, 2024. He directs the Yale American Parkinson Disease Association Center for Parkinson Precision Medicine and the Yale Harvard Biomarkers Study, which is one of the world’s largest longitudinal biobanks for Parkinson’s research.