WASHINGTON: US pharmaceutical giant Gilead said on Wednesday it had signed licensing deals with six generic drugmakers to produce and sell its HIV prevention medicine in lower-income countries.
The announcement comes shortly after Gilead faced pressure to open lenacapavir to a patent pool that would allow generics to be sold under license in those countries.
The antiretroviral drug has been hailed as a potential game-changer in the fight against HIV, with early trials finding the treatment 100 percent effective in preventing HIV infection.
With Wednesday´s announcement, generics companies will be able to make a lower-cost version of the HIV prevention regimen, subject to regulatory approvals, in 120 countries.
“Gilead teams have been working with urgency to bring on high-volume generic manufacturers now,” so they can start manufacturing the drug after receiving approvals, said Gilead CEO Daniel O´Day.
In July, researchers estimated that lenacapavir -- which costs patients more than $40,000 per person a year in several countries -- could be made for as little as $40. The drug only needs to be injected twice a year, making it much easier to administer than current regimens requiring daily pills.
International health agency Unitaid said on Wednesday that it welcomed Gilead´s announcement, adding that it was “prepared to invest immediately and collaborate to fast-track access to lenacapavir.” “This is a potentially game-changing medication that could dramatically turn the tide against HIV infections, and we must ensure, without delay, global access to lenacapavir for all those who need it,” said Unitaid executive director Philippe Duneton.
Wikileaks founder Julian Assange attends a hearing on his detention and conviction, and their effect on human rights...
Japan's Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya looks on at Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's official residence in Tokyo, Japan...
An adult tiger walking inside a cage at a public zoo in Hanoi. — AFP/file HANOI: At least 47 tigers, three lions...
Elderly people take shelter from the sun at a bus station in Forli, Italy, July 19, 2023. — ReutersROME: Italy will...
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer.— Reuters/file LONDON: UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has paid back more than...
The lobby of the CIA Headquarters Building in Langley, Virginia, US on August 14, 2008. — ReutersWASHINGTON: The US...