Staggering Results Show HIV-Transmission Reduced 100% with Twice-Yearly Lenacapavir Injection — 2026-06-09

## Short Segments France takes a historic step by voting to annul the Code Noir, its last slavery law, while Dutch innovators tackle LA's river trash ahead of the 2028 Olympics. Coming up, we'll explore how a new HIV-prevention drug achieved a 100% success rate in trials. France votes to strike the Code Noir from its books, its last slavery law. In a unanimous decision, France's National Assembly voted 254 to zero to annul the Code Noir, a colonial-era law that classified enslaved people as property. Originally signed by King Louis XIV in 1685, the law governed the treatment of enslaved individuals in French colonies. Although slavery was abolished in France in 1848, the Code Noir remained formally unrepealed until now. The vote is seen as a symbolic gesture, with the Senate's approval still required to finalize the repeal. President Macron has expressed his support for the measure. The move has sparked discussions about France's colonial past and the ongoing debate around reparations. Max Mathiasin, a lawmaker from Guadeloupe who championed the bill, emphasized the importance of recognizing the humanity of those affected by the law. The repeal of the Code Noir marks a significant moment in France's reckoning with its history, as lawmakers seek to address the lingering legacy of colonialism. Dutch Ocean Cleanup folks are clearing LA's rivers of trash in time for the 2028 Olympics. As Los Angeles prepares for the 2028 Summer Olympics, efforts are underway to clean up the city's rivers. Authorities have enlisted the help of the Ocean Cleanup, an international nonprofit known for its work on the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. The organization, led by Boyan Slat, is deploying solar-powered trash interceptors in the LA and San Gabriel rivers. These machines are designed to prevent hundreds of tons of plastic and debris from reaching the Pacific Ocean. The initiative builds on the success of Interceptor 007, which has already removed nearly 387,000 pounds of trash from Ballona Creek. This public-private partnership aims to enhance the city's waterways and ensure a cleaner environment for the upcoming global event. By addressing the issue of river pollution, Los Angeles is taking proactive steps to showcase its commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship on the world stage. ## Feature Story Staggering results show HIV-transmission reduced 100% with twice-yearly Lenacapavir injection. A groundbreaking trial has demonstrated that a new HIV-prevention drug, Lenacapavir, can achieve a 100% reduction in HIV transmission. The PURPOSE 1 trial involved 3,200 participants in high-HIV-incidence regions of South Africa and Uganda. Participants received a subcutaneous injection of Lenacapavir every six months. The results were remarkable, with no new infections reported among the young women involved in the study. This trial marks the first phase 3 HIV prevention trial to show zero infections, prompting an independent data monitoring committee to recommend offering open-label Lenacapavir to all participants. The trial's success highlights the potential of long-acting injectable pre-exposure prophylaxis as a powerful tool in the fight against HIV. Lenacapavir's efficacy surpasses that of existing oral medications, offering a promising alternative for individuals at high risk of infection. The trial's findings have generated cautious optimism among scientists, who see this as a significant step forward in HIV prevention. As the world continues to grapple with the HIV epidemic, which has claimed over 40 million lives since 1981, the development of effective prevention strategies remains crucial. The success of Lenacapavir could pave the way for broader adoption of injectable prophylaxis, potentially transforming the landscape of HIV prevention and offering hope to millions at risk worldwide. As researchers continue to analyze the data, the focus will be on understanding the long-term implications and exploring the potential for wider distribution of this promising treatment.