Lenacapavir (Sunlenca, Gilead) may inhibit virion maturation by blocking the formation of HIV-capsid pentamers, leading to a reduced risk for HIV infection, according to data presented at the CROI 2023, held in Seattle.
An HIV-1 capsid contains approximately 1,500 capsid proteins divided into approximately 250 hexamers and 12 pentamers. During virion maturation, the pentamers introduce curvatures, which allow for the assembly of a closed, cone-shaped structure. Small molecules that