Yeztugo® (lenacapavir)

PURPOSE 2 Study

This document is in response to your request for information regarding Yeztugo® (lenacapavir [LEN]) and the PURPOSE 2 study.

Some data may be outside of the US FDA-approved prescribing information. In providing this data, Gilead Sciences, Inc. is not making any representation as to its clinical relevance or to the use of any Gilead product(s). For information about the approved conditions of use of any Gilead drug product, please consult the FDA-approved prescribing information.

The full indication, important safety information, and boxed warning(s) are available at:
www.gilead.com/-/media/files/pdfs/medicines/hiv/yeztugo/yeztugo_pi;
www.gilead.com/-/media/files/pdfs/medicines/hiv/truvada/truvada_pi.

Summary

Clinical Data From the PURPOSE 2 Study

PURPOSE 2 is an ongoing, phase 3, double-blind, randomized study evaluating the efficacy and safety of twice-yearly SUBQ LEN and once-daily oral FTC/TDF for HIV-1 PrEP in 3265 cisgender gay, bisexual, and other men; TGW; TGM; and GNB individuals in Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Peru, South Africa, Thailand, and the US who have condomless receptive anal sex with partners assigned male at birth. Study participants were randomly assigned in a 2:1 ratio to receive twice‑yearly SUBQ LEN or daily oral FTC/TDF.1

PURPOSE 2 met its key efficacy endpoints at the prespecified primary analysis, demonstrating superiority of LEN over bHIV (incidence expected in the absence of PrEP) and FTC/TDF. LEN reduced HIV incidence by 96% compared with bHIV incidence (primary endpoint; IRR, 0.04; 95% CI: 0.01–0.18; P<0.001) and by 89% compared with daily oral FTC/TDF (secondary endpoint; IRR, 0.11; 95% CI: 0.02–‍0.51; P=0.002).1

• There were 2 incident cases among 2179 participants in the LEN group (incidence of 0.1 per 100 PY).
• There were 9 incident cases among 1086 individuals in the FTC/TDF group (incidence of 0.93 per 100 PY). 

At the end of the RBP2:

• There was 1 additional incident case in the LEN group (incidence of 0.11 per 100 PY).
• There were 3 additional incident cases in the FTC/TDF group (incidence of 0.92 per 100 PY).

At the primary analysis, the overall frequencies of non-ISR AEs and laboratory abnormalities were similar between groups, with the exception of changes in eGFR. Most ISRs were mild to moderate in severity and were reported in 1816 participants (83.2%) who received SUBQ LEN and 756 participants (69.5%) who received SUBQ LEN placebo injections.1

At the end of the RBP, no new safety concerns were noted, no additional discontinuations due to ISRs occurred, and the incidence and severity of ISRs in the LEN group were generally similar to those observed at the primary analysis.2

Clinical Data From the PURPOSE 2 Study

Study Design and Demographics

PURPOSE 2 (NCT04925752) is an ongoing, phase 3, double-blind, randomized study evaluating the efficacy and safety of twice-yearly SUBQ LEN and once‑daily oral FTC/TDF for HIV-1 PrEP in cisgender gay, bisexual, and other men; TGW; TGM; and GNB individuals aged ≥16 years in Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Peru, South Africa, Thailand, and the US who have condomless receptive anal sex with partners assigned male at birth (N=3265). Eligible participants were tested for HIV at screening, and those who tested negative were randomly assigned in a 2:1 ratio to SUBQ LEN every 26 weeks + daily oral FTC/TDF placebo (n=2179) or SUBQ LEN placebo every 26 weeks + daily oral FTC/TDF (n=1086; Figure 1). Additional testing was performed with samples from participants who tested positive for HIV at screening to determine the recency of the HIV infection, and these data were used to estimate the bHIV that would be expected without PrEP.1

Key inclusion criteria in the randomized phase of the study included the following: negative results on point-of-care fourth-generation Ag/Ab test and central laboratory fourth‑generation Ag/Ab test (if positive, was confirmed by an HIV-1/2 Ab differentiation assay), qualitative HIV-1 RNA test (lower limit of quantification, 20 c/mL), eGFR ≥60 mL/min, and body weight ≥35 kg at screening. Individuals were excluded if they had prior use of HIV PrEP (including FTC/TDF or FTC/TAF) or HIV PEP in the past 3 months or any prior use of long-acting injectable HIV PrEP.1,3 The primary efficacy endpoint was the incidence of HIV among randomized participants.1

On September 11, 2024, an external independent data monitoring committee concluded that the prespecified efficacy criteria for stopping the blinded portion of the trial had been met based on the interim results, and (per the trial protocol) the interim analysis became the primary analysis. All participants were offered the option to receive open-label SUBQ LEN on September 25, 2024.1

Figure 1. PURPOSE 2: Study Design1-3

aIncluded oral PrEP use within the last 12 weeks or any prior use of long-acting injectable forms of PrEP.

bCondomless receptive anal sex with ≥1 partner in the previous 12 months and met ≥1 of the following criteria: condomless receptive anal sex with ≥2 partners in the previous 12 weeks; history of syphilis, rectal gonorrhea, or rectal chlamydia in the previous 24 weeks; self-reported use of stimulants with sex in the previous 12 weeks.

cThe bHIV was the incidence of HIV expected without PrEP that would be anticipated in a placebo group. A total of 45 participants (11.9%) were classified as having recently acquired HIV.

dThe determination of efficacy was based on the prespecified interim analysis when 50% of RBP participants completed 52 weeks of follow-up. Based on results, the study arms were unblinded, and the interim analysis became the primary analysis (per protocol).

eParticipants who declined LEN OLE were offered up to 78 weeks of open-label FTC/TDF if they were on blinded LEN in RBP.

fAll participants received a loading dose of oral LEN 600 mg or matching placebo on Days 1 and 2. Participants in the LEN group received placebo FTC/TDF, and participants in the FTC/TDF group received placebo SUBQ LEN. These participants were included in the full analysis set for the primary efficacy analysis, and additional participants were included in the safety analysis.

gThose who received FTC/TDF during the RBP and continued to the OLE phase received oral LEN 600 mg on Days 1 and 2 of the OLE.

A total of 3271 participants were randomly assigned and received ≥1 dose of study drug; 6 participants were diagnosed with HIV on Day 1 and were excluded from the efficacy analysis (mITT, n=3265). Baseline demographics were balanced between RBP groups at the primary analysis (Table 1).1

Table 1. PURPOSE 2: Select Baseline Demographics and Disease Characteristics1

aIncluded all participants who identified as Black/of Black ancestry: Black, Black/White, Black/Pardo (a specific racial category in Brazil), Black/Brown (Brazil), Black/Colored (a specific racial category in South Africa), Black/American Indian or Alaskan Native, Black/Asian, and Black/Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander.

bIncluded all participants who identified as American Indian or Alaskan Native, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, Asian/Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, White/Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, and White/American Indian or Alaskan Native.

cIncluded all participants who identified as Asian/White, Colored (South Africa), Pardo (Brazil), White/Brown (Brazil), multiracial any other, and not multiracial other.

dIncluded 122 participants (89.7%) in the LEN group and 53 participants (84.1%) in the FTC/TDF group assigned male at birth.

eIncluded individuals who identified as Travesti (LEN, n=3; FTC/TDF, n=3) or as an “other” gender (LEN, n=3; FTC/TDF, n=1).

fChlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhea were diagnosed based on pharyngeal, rectal, and urethral (urine) samples tested by central and local laboratories. Syphilis was diagnosed by blood testing performed locally using local testing protocols.

Efficacy

Primary analysis1

In total, 3220 participants had ≥1 post-randomization HIV-1 test, resulting in 2905 PY of follow-up for calculations of incident HIV. The prespecified primary analysis was conducted when 50% of participants had completed ≥52 weeks of follow-up.

The bHIV in the screened population was 2.37 per 100 PY (95% CI: 1.65–3.42; Figure 2). In the LEN group, there were 2 incident HIV cases (0.1 per 100 PY; 95% CI: 0.01–0.37) 13 and 26 weeks after the first dose. Both participants had LEN concentrations above the IQ4 (15.5 ng/mL) at the time of diagnosis; no delayed diagnosis was revealed by retrospective HIV-1 RNA viral load testing, and both participants developed the N74D capsid resistance mutation. There were 9 incident HIV cases (0.93 per 100 PY; 95% CI: 0.43–1.77) in the FTC/TDF group; these participants had low/no adherence (determined through measurements of TFV-DP levels in dried blood stains) or had documented discontinuation of FTC/TDF >10 days prior to diagnosis, and 1 participant was found to have an M184V resistance mutation.

PURPOSE 2 met its key efficacy endpoints, demonstrating superiority of twice‑yearly SUBQ LEN over bHIV and daily oral FTC/TDF. LEN reduced HIV incidence by 96% compared with bHIV incidence (primary endpoint; IRR, 0.04; 95% CI: 0.01–0.18; P<0.001) and by 89% compared with daily oral FTC/TDF (secondary endpoint; IRR, 0.11; 95% CI: 0.02–‍0.51; P=0.002; Figure 3).

Figure 2. PURPOSE 2 Primary Analysis: Incidence of HIV-1 (mITT Population)1

Figure 3. PURPOSE 2 Primary Analysis: Primary and Secondary Endpoints
(mITT Population)1

Retention and adherence rates1

The overall study retention rate was high and was similar between treatment groups: Week 26, 94.4% (2834/3001); Week 52, 93.3% (1191/1277); and Week 104, 91.3% (63/69).

Adherence was high, and injections were administered on time (ie, within 28 weeks of prior injection) in 91% of participants (2606/2864) at Week 26 and in 92.8% of participants (1016/1095) at Week 52. In the FTC/TDF group, TFV-DP concentrations in dried blood spots consistent with high adherence (≥4 pills per week) were observed in 82% at Week 8, 67% at Week 26, and in 62% at Week 52.

End-of-RBP efficacy analysis

The follow-up analysis conducted at the end of the RBP included all data from the RBP and follow-up after the first dose of open-label PrEP administered after early discontinuation of study drug during the RBP or after stopping any PrEP during the study and on or before the first dose of open-label LEN.2

Cumulatively, there were 3 incident HIV cases (0.11 per 100 PY; 95% CI: 0.02–0.31) in the LEN group after 2843 PY of follow-up, including 1 new HIV case; there were 12 incident cases (0.92 per 100 PY; 95% CI: 0.48–1.61) in the FTC/TDF group after 1305 PY of follow‑up, including 3 new HIV cases.2

Through the end of the RBP, an additional LEN participant who had acquired HIV-1 had Q67H and K70R resistance mutations.4 This participant in the LEN group was diagnosed with HIV at Week 52 using standard HIV testing (central Ag/Ab tests were positive, rapid Ag/Ab tests were negative, and HIV-1/2 Ab differentiation was negative; HIV‑1 RNA: 2,020,000 c/mL); there was no evidence of delayed diagnosis (retrospective HIV-1 RNA testing showed no viremia at Week 39 prior to seroconversion). This participant was a young, gender diverse person who had a history of rectal chlamydia at screening and Week 26 and was diagnosed with rectal gonorrhea at Week 26. They had all LEN injections on time, and LEN levels were generally within the range noted within a subset of study participants who underwent PK analysis. Their LEN concentration at HIV-1 diagnosis was 14.2 ng/mL (IQ4, 15.5 ng/mL; Week 56 level was >95th percentile of the subset of participants in PK analysis).2

Safety

Primary analysis safety results1

Overall, the frequencies of non-ISR AEs and laboratory abnormalities were similar between groups (Table 2), except for changes in eGFR, with a median (IQR) change from baseline to Week 26 of +1.2 (-8 to +10.9) mL/min in the LEN group and ‑3 (-12.4 to +6.5) mL/min in the FTC/TDF group (P<0.001) and a median (IQR) change from baseline to Week 52 of +0.6 (‑10.3 to +10.8) mL/min in the LEN group and -2.9 (-13.8 to +7.4) mL/min in the FTC/TDF group (P=0.002). There were 4 deaths (0.2%) in the LEN group (each, n=1: cerebrovascular accident and pulmonary thromboembolism, car collision, sudden death with an undetermined cause, and suicide) and 2 (0.2%) in the FTC/TDF group (each, n=1: intracranial hemorrhage and undetermined cause); none were deemed related to study drug by investigator.

Table 2. PURPOSE 2: Safety Summary of Non-ISR AEs and Laboratory Abnormalities1

aDecreased renal CrCl was the only non-ISR AE that led to study drug discontinuation in >1 participant in either group (FTC/TDF, n=2 [0.2%]).

bIncluded participants with ≥1 post-baseline result.

Overall, 10,094 SUBQ LEN and 5145 SUBQ LEN placebo injections were administered, and ISRs were reported in 1816 participants (83.2%) who received LEN and 756 participants (69.5%) in the FTC/TDF group who received placebo injections. Most ISRs were mild to moderate in severity, and nodules, pain, and erythema were the most common ISRs (coded according to MedDRA v27.0). Nodules were reported more frequently in the LEN group than in the placebo injection group (63.4% vs 39.2%, respectively), with a median (IQR) duration of 183 (89–274) days in the SUBQ LEN group and 64 (19–98) days in the placebo injection group. The median (IQR) duration of induration was 84 (8–190) days in the SUBQ LEN group and 8 (5–57) days in the placebo injection group. The incidence of pain was similar between groups (SUBQ LEN, 56.4%; placebo injection, 53.4%). There were no reports of keloid formation. Overall, the frequency and severity of ISRs decreased over time. AEs of ISRs led to study drug discontinuation in 29 participants (LEN, n=26 [1.2%]; FTC/TDF, n=3 [0.3%]).

End-of-RBP safety results2

Through the end of the RBP, no new safety concerns were noted, and no additional discontinuations due to ISRs occurred (Table 3). The incidence and severity of ISRs were generally similar to those observed in the primary analysis (Figure 4).

Table 3. PURPOSE 2 End of RBP Analysis: Safety Outcomes2

aExcluded ISRs.

Note: All AEs were coded according to MedDRA v28.0 at the end of the RBP.

Figure 4. PURPOSE 2 Primary and End-of-RBP Analyses: Severity of ISRs2a

aIncluded ISRs that occurred in ≥100 participants.

References

1. Kelley CF, Acevedo-Quinones M, Agwu AL, et al. Twice-Yearly Lenacapavir for HIV Prevention in Men and Gender-Diverse Persons. N Engl J Med. 2025;392(13):1261-1276.

2. Cantos VD, Mngadi K, Supparatpinyo K, et al. Lenacapavir for PrEP: HIV-1 Incidence and Safety from PURPORSE 2 at the End of Randomized Blinded Phase [Presentation]. Paper presented at: 33rd Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI); February 22-25, 2026; Denver, CO.

3. ClinicalTrials.gov. Study to Assess the Effectiveness and Safety of Lenacapavir for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PURPOSE 2). ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04925752. Available at: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04925752?term=purpose-2&draw=2&rank=1.

4. Cox J, Andreatta K, Hendricks MR, et al. Resistance Analyses of the PURPOSE Studies Through the end of the Randomized Blinded Phase [Presentation]. Paper presented at: 33rd Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI); February 22-25, 2026; Denver, CO.

Abbreviations

Ab=antibody
AE=adverse event
Ag=antigen
bHIV=background HIV incidence
c/mL=copies per mL
CGM=cisgender men
FTC=emtricitabine
GNB=gender non-binary
IQ4=inhibitory quotient 4
IRR=incidence rate ratio
ISR=injection site reaction
LEN=lenacapavir
MedDRA=Medical Dictionary for Regulatory Activities
mITT=modified intent-to-treat
OLE=open-label extension
PEP=post-exposure prophylaxis
PK=pharmacokinetic(s)
PrEP=pre-exposure prophylaxis
PY=person-years
RBP=randomized blinded phase
SAE=serious adverse event
SUBQ=subcutaneous
TAF=tenofovir alafenamide
TDF=tenofovir disoproxil fumarate
TFV-DP=tenofovir diphosphate
TGM=transgender men
TGW=transgender women

Product Label

For the full indication, important safety information, and boxed warning(s), please refer to the Yeztugo and Truvada US Prescribing Information available at:
www.gilead.com/-/media/files/pdfs/medicines/hiv/yeztugo/yeztugo_pi;
www.gilead.com/-/media/files/pdfs/medicines/hiv/truvada/truvada_pi.

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