On Dec. 22, 2022, Gilead Sciences announced that Sunlenca (lenacapavir), in combination with other antiretroviral(s) (ARV), had been granted approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of HIV-1 infection in heavily treatment-experienced adults with multi-drug resistant (MDR) HIV-1 infection.

Sunlenca has a multi-stage mechanism of action distinguishable from other currently approved classes of antiviral agents and no known cross resistance exhibited in vitro to other existing drug classes. Sunlenca offers a new, twice-yearly treatment option for adults with HIV that is not adequately controlled by their current treatment regimen.