FDA Approves Groundbreaking HIV Prevention Drug After University of Utah Research
SALT LAKE CITY — In a major breakthrough for public health, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has officially approved lenacapavir (brand name: Yeztugo) — a long-acting HIV prevention drug built on pioneering research led by University of Utah biochemist Dr. Wesley Sundquist.
The approval is being hailed as a major step forward in the fight against HIV/AIDS, which still infects over 31,000 people annually in the United States and 1.3 million globally.
🧪 From Lab Discovery to Life-Saving Drug
Dr. Sundquist’s research began in the late 1990s when his team at the University of Utah purified and analyzed the HIV capsid — the protein shell that protects the virus’s genetic material.
The team discovered how the capsid is assembled and identified how structural weaknesses in its formation could be exploited. These insights demonstrated that targeting the HIV capsid could stop the virus from replicating — and ultimately, from infecting host cells.
This groundbreaking research attracted Gilead Sciences, which collaborated with Sundquist and developed lenacapavir based on these findings. The drug directly binds to the HIV capsid, preventing it from properly forming or entering human cells.
🌍 Global Clinical Success and Life-Changing Potential
In large-scale Phase 3 clinical trials conducted in South Africa and Uganda, lenacapavir proved to be nearly 100% effective. Not a single one of the 2,000+ women who received the twice-yearly injection contracted HIV — a result that stunned the global medical community.
“This is more potent than any drug available — and more importantly, it lasts six months,” said Sundquist. “This could dramatically reduce global infections and change the HIV prevention landscape.”
🏆 Recognition and Ongoing Impact
For his work, Dr. Sundquist has received multiple honors in 2025, including the Warren Alpert Prize from Harvard University and a spot on Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in the World.
Despite these accolades, Sundquist remains focused on the larger goal: “We still need a vaccine. That would protect everyone — not just those at risk,” he noted.
📈 Why Lenacapavir Matters
- First-of-its-kind capsid inhibitor approved for HIV prevention
- Six-month protection from a single injection
- Major breakthrough for at-risk populations globally
- Could drastically reduce HIV-related infections and deaths
- Builds on over two decades of university-led research
