Study: Highly-Affordable 'Vaccine-Like' HIV Drug Possible

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Facts

  • A drug described as 'the closest we have ever been to an HIV vaccine' that currently costs over $40K per person per year, could be made to cost less than $40 for each patient, according to newly-released research.1
  • Early trials have found that Lenacapavir, developed by US pharmaceutical company Gilead, is nearly 100% effective in preventing HIV infection. The drug is also easier to administer than current preventative regimens that require daily pills, with Lenacapavir needing only two injections per year.2
  • Lenacapavir is already approved as a twice-yearly antiretroviral treatment for people with multi-drug resistant HIV, though recent trials have focused on using the drug as a pre-exposure prophylaxis, to prevent HIV in people at a high risk for contracting the disease.3
  • Research findings presented Tuesday estimate that Lenacapavir could be produced for as much as 1K times less than the current price if Gilead allowed for cheaper generic versions of the drug to be manufactured.2
  • Advocates have urged Gilead to allow for generic licensing through the UN-backed Medicines 'patent pool' in all low- and middle-income countries, where the majority of HIV infections take place.4
  • Gilead has said that it is still too early to predict the price for Lenacapavir for use as a prophylaxis, though the company has pledged to create 'a strategy to enable broad, sustainable access globally.'4

Sources: 1AA, 2Medicalxpress, 3Forbes and 4Guardian.

Narratives

  • Narrative A, as provided by Medicalxpress. It is still too early for Gilead to be able to predict what the cost of Lenacapavir as a pre-exposure prophylaxis will be. The research presented on Tuesday has not been peer-reviewed, and thus while it is hopeful, it shouldn't be given too much weight. Gilead is working to ensure that the drug will be widely accessible in the future, but it's too early to declare this drug as an HIV panacea.
  • Narrative B, as provided by Guardian. Gilead has the opportunity to save many lives. This drug could be a game changer in stopping the spread of HIV if it's widely available and offered at an affordable price. Cost still remains a huge barrier to access to the drug, with the price currently over 40K dollars annually for each patient. If a generic version of the drug was offered at an affordable price the world may be able to meet the 2030 goal of ending new HIV transmissions.

Predictions