Breakthrough HIV jab to be supplied to millions at knock-down price
Gilead Sciences said it would supply lenacapavir at cost to countries mainly in Africa which are supported by the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.
The preventative jab was hailed as the scientific breakthrough of 2024 and a potential turning point in the campaign to stem the HIV epidemic, which still kills around one person per minute.
Clinical trials have shown lenacapavir provides total protection against catching the HIV virus for six months and may last twice that time.
The long-lasting nature of the new pre-exposure prophylaxis (or PrEP) means it is more effective and more discreet than current daily pills.
Yet the £18,300 ($25,000) per-year price has put the injection beyond the reach of countries most in need.
Gilead last year signed royalty-free deals allowing six generic drug makers to make and sell low-cost versions of the drug in 120 low- and middle-income countries, but those supplies will take time to get up and running.
'This is not just a scientific breakthrough, it's a turning point for HIV/AIDS,' said Peter Sands, executive director of the Global Fund.
'For the first time, we have a tool that can fundamentally change the trajectory of the HIV epidemic, but only if we get it to the people who need it most.
'Our ambition is to reach 2 million people with long-acting PrEP.'
The agreement was finalised as the United Nations warned that the sudden withdrawal of American aid money used to fight the epidemic had caused a 'systemic shock'.
Donald Trump's cuts to America's long running anti-HIV campaign could lead to more than 4 million AIDS-related deaths and 6 million more HIV infections by 2029 if the funding is not replaced.
The UN's own UNAIDS agency said: 'The current wave of funding losses has already destabilised supply chains, led to the closure of health facilities, left thousands of health clinics without staff, set back prevention programs, disrupted HIV testing efforts and forced many community organisations to reduce or halt their HIV activities.'
The first lenacapavir jabs are expected to be delivered under the new agreement later this year and will be prioritised according to national prevention plans, which typically try to protect the most vulnerable groups, such as young women.
Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, South Africa's health minister, said: 'Lenacapavir offers young women, and everyone at risk, a discreet, long-acting option to stay HIV-free.
'For far too long, women and girls in our country have carried the greatest burden of this epidemic.
'But scientific breakthroughs must be backed by political will, community leadership, and sustained investment. We are determined to ensure no one is left behind.'
Both Gilead and the Global Fund said price terms of the agreement were confidential, and the Global Fund declined to comment further on how many doses would be ordered immediately.
Last month, Winnie Byanyima, the head of UNAIDS, said the two million target was not enough.
She said: 'We need that product. Gilead has licenced six companies to produce generics and has agreed to sell at cost quantities for two million people. But it is way below what is needed.'
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