Ravula Tulasi Naga Pavan Kumar, Int. J. of Pharm. Sci., 2024, Vol 2, Issue 11, 961-971 |Review *Corresponding Author: Ravula Tulasi Naga Pavan Kumar Address: DR.C.S.N. Institute of Pharmacy Email : ravulatulasinagapavankumar@gmail.com Relevant conflicts of interest/financial disclosures: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES 961 | Page Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) remains a global health challenge despite advancements in antiretroviral therapies. Capsid inhibitors have emerged as promising agents due to their unique mechanism of action targeting the viral capsid, which plays a critical role in viral replication, assembly, and uncoating. Among these, lenacapavir—a first-in-class, long-acting capsid inhibitor—has shown substantial efficacy in preclinical and clinical trials, demonstrating prolonged antiviral activity, reduced dosing frequency, and a favorable safety profile. This review explores the pharmacology, clinical efficacy, and safety of novel capsid inhibitors, with a focus on lenacapavir’s potential to address issues of adherence and resistance. Additionally, the article discusses practical considerations, dosing strategies, and future directions in capsid inhibitor research, offering insights into the next generation of HIV therapeutics. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES [ISSN: 0975-4725; CODEN(USA): IJPS00] Journal Homepage: https://www.ijpsjournal.com Review Article Lenacapavir: A Novel Capsid Inhibitor in HIV-1 Treatment and Capsid Inhibitors Drugs Ravula Tulasi Naga Pavan Kumar, Panja Aishwarya Sai, P. Suma Sri, Boddani Sunil DR.C.S.N. Institute of Pharmacy. ARTICLE INFO ABSTRACT Published: 23 Nov. 2024 Keywords: Lenacapavir, HIV-1 Treatment, Capsid Inhibitors Drugs. DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.14208676 INTRODUCTION Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection remains a significant global public health challenge. There are two main types of HIV, HIV- 1 and HIV-2, with HIV-1 accounting for around 95% of infections worldwide due to its higher global prevalence. An estimated 38.4 million people are living with HIV-1 globally, and approximately 28.7 million of them are receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART). HIV-1 infection progressively weakens the immune system and can lead to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), characterized by a CD4+ T-cell count below 200 cells per microliter or the presence of opportunistic infections, such as tuberculosis, cryptococcal meningitis, lymphomas, and Kaposi’s sarcoma. Key indicators of HIV-1 infection progression or treatment failure include an increased viral load and a declining CD4+ T- cell count. If left untreated, HIV-1 infection may eventually lead to death following a variable latency period. Although ART regimens can manage HIV-1 infection, they cannot cure it (Figure 1).