New research suggests that the cost of producing Lenacapavir, a groundbreaking HIV prevention drug developed by Gilead Sciences, could be significantly lower than its current price tag. According to researchers, the cost could come down to as little as $40 per person a year if generic versions are allowed for manufacturing.
Lenacapavir has been hailed as a potential game-changer in the fight against HIV due to its effectiveness and ease of administration. The drug is currently priced over $40,000 per person a year in various countries including the US, France, Norway, and Australia.
The antiretroviral drug has been found to be 100 percent effective in preventing HIV infection in clinical trials. It only needs to be injected twice a year and is being tested for potential pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) use with promising interim results.
UNAIDS executive director Winnie Byanyima has called on Gilead Sciences to make the drug available to people in developing countries, stating that it could transform access for marginalized communities and save lives. The UN is urging the pharma giant to allow generic manufacturing of Lenacapavir through the UN-backed Medicines Patent Pool.
The AIDS pandemic continues to affect millions of people worldwide, with around 10 million still needing to be reached with antiretroviral therapy and around 30 million currently on such treatment. Some countries in sub-Saharan Africa have made significant progress in reducing new HIV infections and deaths since 2010.
Gilead Sciences has not yet responded to the calls for making Lenacapavir more accessible to a wider population.
