US FDA approves Gilead's twice-yearly injection to prevent HIV
WASHINGTON - The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Wednesday approved Gilead Sciences' twice-yearly injection to prevent HIV, a move the company hailed as a major breakthrough in the fight against the sexually transmitted virus.
Drugs to prevent HIV transmission, known as pre-exposure prophylaxis or PrEP, have existed for more than a decade. But because they typically require taking a daily pill, they have struggled to make a significant dent in global infections.
"This is a historic day in the decades-long fight against HIV," said Daniel O'Day, Gilead's chairman and chief executive officer, in a statement.
Lenacapavir, marketed under the brand name Yeztugo, has been shown in clinical trials to reduce the risk of HIV transmission by more than 99.9 percent in adults and adolescents -- making it functionally akin to a powerful vaccine.
But optimism may be tempered by the drug's expected eye-watering price tag.
While the company has not disclosed specifics, analysts estimate the US launch price could be as high as $25,000 per year.
Activists are calling for the price to be slashed to $25 per person annually to help end the HIV pandemic.
The approval also comes as President Donald Trump's administration has slashed funding for HIV treatment and prevention programs both overseas and within the United States. — Agence France-Presse
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GMA Network
a day ago
- GMA Network
US FDA approves Gilead's twice-yearly injection to prevent HIV
WASHINGTON - The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Wednesday approved Gilead Sciences' twice-yearly injection to prevent HIV, a move the company hailed as a major breakthrough in the fight against the sexually transmitted virus. Drugs to prevent HIV transmission, known as pre-exposure prophylaxis or PrEP, have existed for more than a decade. But because they typically require taking a daily pill, they have struggled to make a significant dent in global infections. "This is a historic day in the decades-long fight against HIV," said Daniel O'Day, Gilead's chairman and chief executive officer, in a statement. Lenacapavir, marketed under the brand name Yeztugo, has been shown in clinical trials to reduce the risk of HIV transmission by more than 99.9 percent in adults and adolescents -- making it functionally akin to a powerful vaccine. But optimism may be tempered by the drug's expected eye-watering price tag. While the company has not disclosed specifics, analysts estimate the US launch price could be as high as $25,000 per year. Activists are calling for the price to be slashed to $25 per person annually to help end the HIV pandemic. The approval also comes as President Donald Trump's administration has slashed funding for HIV treatment and prevention programs both overseas and within the United States. — Agence France-Presse
GMA Network
2 days ago
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DepEd, DOH aligns curriculum to address HIV spike among Filipino youth
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GMA Network
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PAOCC suspends ops due to disease outbreak in overcrowded POGO detention facility
The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) on Thursday expressed concern over the spread of contagious diseases among the Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) workers in its custody, forcing the agency to suspend its operations against their illegal activities. PAOCC Executive Director Gilbert Cruz said at least 700 former POGO employees remain at their temporary detention center in Pasay City. A recent medical examination revealed 66 tested positive for HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis. ''Yang mga workers na po yan…'yung iba po diyan lalo na yung mga nahuli namin, pag pina-pacheck namin may mga sakit,' Cruz said in Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon. (Some of the arrested POGO workers we checked are sick.) 'Itong huling pina-check namin, 66 ang nagpositive sa sakit na HIV, syphilis at hepatitis. Mga nakakahawa po yan,' he added. (In our latest testing, 66 tested positive for HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis.) During the last hearing of the House Quad Committee (QuadComm) on Monday, Cruz said more than 9,000 former POGO workers remain at large in the Philippines. 'Pakalat-kalat ang mga yan so hindi natin alam kung ano ang activities nila araw-araw. Baka imbis na ipagamot sila ay nagkakalat pa ng sakit,' said Cruz. (They are at large and we don't know their activities. They may be spreading diseases instead of seeking treatment.) 'Dapat talaga bigyan ito nang mabilis na action at kung kailangan ipa-deport agad, ipa-deport na kaysa makahawa sa mga kababayan natin,' he added. (There should be immediate action against this and if they need to be deported, we should deport them so they would not infect our own citizens.) Meanwhile, Cruz said PAOCC was forced to temporarily suspended its operations due to overcrowding in their detention facility. 'For almost two months, hindi na kami nag ooperate kasi unang-una, ang daming may sakit. Nagkaroon ng mini pandemic sa aming facility na nagkaroon ng lung infection dun,' he said. (We did not operate for two months because a lot of them are sick. There was a mini pandemic of lung infections in the facility.) 'We needed to stop yung pagda dagdag ng tao at gamutin muna namin itong may mga sakit. So far medyo nakaka-recover na yung iba. Baka later, bumalik na kami sa dating operations namin,' he added. (We needed to stop adding people and first focus on treating those who are ill. Some have recovered. Maybe later, we can resume our normal operations.) —RF, GMA Integrated News
