The United States and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria are intensifying efforts to expand access to Gilead’s HIV prevention drug, aiming to reach 3 million people by 2028.
The Global Fund said on Tuesday that initial shipments of lenacapavir have already been delivered to nine African countries. It also announced plans to extend access to 12 additional countries, including the Dominican Republic, Fiji, Indonesia, Morocco, Rwanda, and Thailand.
Read Also – AIP to privatize Avanos Medical in a $1.27 billion deal
In July last year, the Global Fund, an international partnership, and Gilead completed plans to supply lenacapavir to low-income countries, agreeing to provide sufficient doses to treat up to 2 million people over a three-year period.
Doctors Without Borders (MSF), an independent international medical organization, expressed concern that the agreement does not adequately address the underlying barriers preventing many people who need the “game-changing” medicine from accessing it.
“Any expanded access to lenacapavir is a good thing, but reaching only one million more people in three years is a tiny fraction of what’s needed to make a real dent in the HIV epidemic.” said Tom Ellman, director of MSF’s Southern Africa Medical Unit.
Lenacapavir is a twice-yearly subcutaneous injection that helps address challenges associated with daily oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) pills, such as missed doses and difficulties in maintaining a consistent supply.
The Global Fund said early program data shows strong uptake among priority groups, including pregnant and breastfeeding women, adolescent girls and young women, as well as individuals accessing HIV prevention treatment for the first time.
Gilead has granted voluntary licenses to several manufacturers to produce generic versions of lenacapavir, helping to pave the way for expanded and more affordable supply in the future, Global Fund said.
