While lenacapavir treatment is inaccessible to most patients, its generic version could revolutionize the fight against HIV.
- While HIV treatment costs about $40,000 per person each year, it could fall to around $40 (just 37 euros) for generic drugs, researchers say.
- “Like a vaccine”, this antiretroviral, developed by the American giant Gilead from the molecule lenacapavir, requires only two injections per year, which makes it much easier to administer than daily tablets.
- Today, while some 30 million people living with the AIDS virus worldwide are receiving antiretroviral treatment, around 10 million are not.
A treatment considered promising against the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which costs about $40,000 per person each year, could fall to around $40 (just 37 euros) in generic form, according to an estimate revealed by researchers on the 25e International AIDS Conference, currently taking place in Munich, Germany.
A treatment “like a vaccine” that could “stop the transmission of HIV”
This antiretroviral, developed by the American giant Gilead from the molecule lenacapavir, could be a game changer against AIDS. It requires only two injections per year, which makes it much easier to administer than daily tablets. And it is also being tested as a preventive drug (PrEP) to avoid infection, with 100% effectiveness, according to a recent preliminary study.
This treatment, which we receive “like a vaccine”could “stop the transmission of HIV” if given to people at high risk, such as gay or bisexual men, sex workers, prisoners or young women, particularly in Africa, said Andrew Hill of the University of Liverpool in the United Kingdom, who presented the study.
At about $40,000 a year — its current cost in countries such as the United States, France, Norway and Australia — lenacapavir is out of reach for most patients. If the American giant allowed it to be manufactured as a generic version, this cost could drop to $40, the researchers calculated.
10 million people are deprived of antiretroviral treatment
Winnie Byanyima, executive director of UNAIDS (the UN’s HIV programme), called on Gilead to “enter into history” by authorizing the manufacture of generic versions of its antiretroviral. Gilead, the subject of a pressure campaign by many personalities and NGOs, has claimed in recent months to be discussing “regularly” with stakeholders in the fight against HIV, “including governments and NGOs”for access to treatment “for as many people as possible”.
While some 30 million people living with AIDS worldwide are receiving antiretroviral treatment, about 10 million are not. About 1.3 million people were newly infected with HIV in 2023.