Wesley Sundquist's lab at the University of Utah played a pivotal role in developing lenacapavir, a groundbreaking long-lasting prophylactic against HIV.

Lenacapavir functions by binding to the viral protein shell, which is essential for HIV's replication, thereby preventing the virus from properly assembling and entering host cells' nuclei.

Sundquist's team discovered that even minor changes to the virus's protein shell could significantly hinder its ability to replicate, prompting Gilead to focus on this aspect for drug development.

Sundquist served as a consultant to Gilead Sciences, which utilized his foundational research on HIV's molecular structure to develop lenacapavir.

The drug offers potent and long-lasting protection against HIV, with a single injection providing immunity for six months, similar to a vaccine's function.

This extended duration of protection is particularly beneficial in regions with limited medical resources, ultimately improving overall health outcomes.

Further trials have confirmed lenacapavir's effectiveness across diverse populations, including men and nonbinary individuals.

In clinical trials conducted in South Africa and Uganda, none of the over 2,000 women who received lenacapavir contracted HIV, demonstrating its high efficacy.

Lenacapavir has been recognized as the 'Breakthrough of the Year' by the journal Science, underscoring its significance in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

Despite advancements like lenacapavir, approximately 630,000 individuals died from HIV-related illnesses globally in 2023, according to the World Health Organization.

Sundquist emphasizes that while significant progress has been made with lenacapavir, the ongoing search for a vaccine remains critical to protect all individuals, not just those at risk.

Sundquist's research on HIV began in the late 1990s, focusing on the protein shell surrounding the virus's genetic material, which remains crucial for its replication.