Gilead Sciences' injectable HIV prevention drug Lenacapavir, also known as Sunlenca, showed promising results in late-stage trials, providing 100% protection to over 5,000 high-risk women in South Africa and Uganda. It requires only two injections per year instead of daily pills, making it easier to administer, particularly among high-risk groups.
While currently priced at around $42,250 per patient annually, researchers estimate that a generic version of Lenacapavir could reduce the cost to around $40 per year, based on raw material prices and discussions with manufacturers in China and India, making it more accessible globally, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).
Gilead is considering strategies to enable global access to Lenacapavir, potentially through voluntary licensing partners, and has been in talks with various organizations to ensure broader access for HIV treatment and prevention. The company has not disclosed the pricing or availability of generic versions in developing countries.
Winnie Byanyima, the executive director of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), urged Gilead to allow generic manufacturing of the drug to ensure broad access in developing countries.
Despite advances in HIV treatment and prevention, millions still live with and die from AIDS.
Researchers have used gene editing techniques like CRISPR to eradicate HIV from infected cells, aiming for a total virus eradication in the body, which could potentially complement the use of Lenacapavir in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
While new HIV infections and deaths decreased in 2023 with better access to treatment, AIDS-related deaths remain high at 630,000 and 1.3 million new infections a year.
Over 42 million people have died from AIDS since its emergence, and around 40 million people live with HIV globally, with Africa, particularly Eastern and southern regions, being the most affected.
Political decisions made this year will determine if the target to end AIDS by 2030 can be reached.
Sources: The Guardian, Forbes, O Globo, El País, Canaltech, Folha de S.Paulo, Hürriyet Daily News, Times of India, Economic Times, Mail & Guardian, Executive Digest
This article was written in collaboration with Generative AI news company Alchemiq.
