Yeztugo® (lenacapavir)
How does YEZTUGO work?

Gilead Sciences, Inc. is providing this letter in response to your unsolicited request for medical information. It is not promotional. It is intended for a US audience 18 years or older.

Gilead Sciences, Inc. is providing this letter in response to your unsolicited request for medical information. It is not promotional. It is intended for a US audience 18 years or older.

YEZTUGO® (lenacapavir)

How does YEZTUGO work?

This information is provided in response to your question. It is not treatment advice on how to use YEZTUGO. Please discuss this question and others you have about your medical condition or treatment with your healthcare provider.

Download the YEZTUGO Patient Information for more details, including approved use(s) and important warnings: www.gilead.com/-/media/files/pdfs/medicines/hiv/yeztugo/yeztugo_patient_pi.pdf

The short answer1

  • YEZTUGO is a prescription medicine used for HIV-1 PreP to reduce the chance of getting HIV-1 from sex in adults and teenagers who weigh at least 77 pounds (35 kg).
  • YEZTUGO makes it hard for HIV-1 to replicate or copy itself. It does this by disrupting 3 different steps in the life cycle of HIV-1:
    • It helps stop HIV-1 from entering the nucleus of your cells.
    • It interrupts the building and sending of HIV-1 out of cells.
    • It disrupts the formation of the capsid of HIV-1.

Who is YEZTUGO for?1

YEZTUGO is a prescription medicine used for HIV-1 PrEP to reduce the chance of getting HIV-1 from sex in adults and teenagers who weigh at least 77 pounds (35 kg). HIV-1 is the virus that causes Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS).

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You must be HIV-negative to start YEZTUGO. You must get tested to make sure that you do not already have HIV-1.

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AI-generated content may be incorrect.

Talk to a healthcare provider about your chance of getting HIV and if YEZTUGO is right for you. If you do not have a healthcare provider, the PrEP Locator website (https://www.PrEPLocator.org) can help you find a healthcare provider in your area who has experience prescribing PrEP medications.

What is YEZTUGO?1

YEZTUGO is a prescription medicine used to reduce the chance of getting HIV-1.

The active ingredient in YEZTUGO is called a capsid inhibitor.

  • A capsid is a shell that covers and protects HIV-1. It is needed for HIV-1 to replicate or make copies of itself.
  • Inhibitor means that it interferes with the capsid doing its job.

How does YEZTUGO work to reduce the chance of getting HIV-1?1

YEZTUGO binds to the capsid of the virus. This makes it hard for HIV-1 to make copies of itself. YEZTUGO interferes with replication by disrupting 3 different steps in the life cycle of HIV-1:

  1. It helps stop HIV-1 from entering the nucleus of your cells. The nucleus is where HIV-1 DNA combines with your cell’s DNA during replication.

 

  1. It interrupts the building and sending of HIV-1 out of cells. It does this is by decreasing production of the parts needed to build the capsid.

 

  1. It disrupts the formation of the capsid of HIV-1. This affects the structure of the capsid.

 

Glossary

AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome): most advanced stage of HIV.

Capsid: a shell that covers and protects HIV-1. It is needed for HIV-1 to replicate (make copies of itself).

Capsid inhibitor: a class of medicines that interferes with HIV capsid.

DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid): a type of genetic information inside a cell.

HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus): HIV is a virus that attacks the body’s immune system. If HIV is not treated, it can lead to AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome).

Nucleus: the part of a cell where its genetic information is kept.

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP): means routinely taking prescription medicine before you're exposed to HIV to help reduce your chances of getting it.

Replication or replicate: means making a copy.

Reference

  1. Enclosed, Gilead Sciences Inc. YEZTUGO® (lenacapavir) tablets, for oral use. YEZTUGO® (lenacapavir) injection, for subcutaneous use. U.S. Prescribing Information. Foster City, CA.

 

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More information about YEZTUGO

If you would like more detailed information about YEZTUGO, please visit:
www.gilead.com/-/media/files/pdfs/medicines/hiv/yeztugo/yeztugo_pi.pdf

This is the US FDA-approved Prescribing Information, including the Patient Labeling, for YEZTUGO. It will tell you about the uses, warnings, and other important safety information about YEZTUGO.

Important note

Gilead Sciences, Inc. is providing this letter in response to your unsolicited request for medical information. Some of the information included in this letter may not be covered in the US FDA- approved Prescribing Information for YEZTUGO. Gilead Sciences, Inc. does not intend this letter to be used as medical advice and does not promote use of YEZTUGO in a way that has not been approved by the FDA. Please discuss this question and others you may have about your medical condition or treatment with your healthcare provider.

Follow-Up

For any additional questions, please contact Gilead Medical Information at:
1866MEDIGSI (18666334474) or   www.patient.askgileadmedical.com/

Reporting side effects

Please report all adverse events to:
Gilead Global Patient Safety 1-800-445-3235, option 3 or
www.gilead.com/utility/contact/report-an-adverse-event

FDA MedWatch Program by 1-800-FDA-1088 or MedWatch, FDA, 5600 Fishers Ln, Rockville, MD 20852 or   www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/medwatch

Data Privacy

The Medical Information service at Gilead Sciences may collect, store, and use your personal information to provide a response to your medical request. We may share your information with other Gilead Sciences colleagues to ensure that your request is addressed appropriately. If you report an adverse event or concern about the quality of a Gilead or Kite product, we will need to use the information you have given us in order to meet our regulatory requirements in relation to the safety of our medicines.

It may be necessary for us to share your information with Gilead’s affiliates, business partners, service providers, and regulatory authorities located in countries besides your own. Gilead Sciences has implemented measures to protect the personal information you provide. Please see the Gilead Privacy Statement (www.gilead.com/privacy-statements) for more information about how Gilead handles your personal information and your rights. If you have any further questions about the use of your personal information, please contact privacy@gilead.com.

YEZTUGO, GILEAD, and the GILEAD logo are registered trademarks of Gilead Sciences, Inc., or its related companies.
© 2025 Gilead Sciences, Inc.

Do you want to report a side effect or other concern about a Gilead medicine?

Report side effects

To report a side effect or unexpected reaction (sometimes called an “adverse event”) please call 1-800-445-3235 (option #3), available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Product complaints

To report issues with our products, like defects or package errors, please call 1-800-445-3235 (option #2) available Monday – Friday, 8am – 5pm PT, or email QualityComplaints@gilead.com.

FDA MedWatch

To report a side effect or product quality concern directly to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), please call 1-800-FDA-1088 or email www.fda.gov/​MedWatch.

You may also contact the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) directly to report adverse events or product quality concerns at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/MedWatch.