Gilead Sciences' stock surged 8.46% on June 20th after announcing that a phase 3 trial of its HIV drug, Lenacapavir, demonstrated 100% efficacy for prevention in women.

Gilead researchers have developed 12 HIV medications, including the first single-tablet regimen to treat HIV, the first antiretroviral for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to help reduce new HIV infections, and the first long-acting injectable HIV treatment medication administered twice-yearly.

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In 2022, 1.3 million people acquired HIV in 2022, while an estimated 39 million people were living with HIV in 2022, according to the WHO.

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While treatment regimens have proven effective in managing the disease, the Gilead drug marks the first medical intervention to prevent transmission since the epidemic began 43 years ago.

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