The drug, which has the potential to “end the HIV pandemic,” will be released in the US this week. A new study reveals that it can sell 1,000 times less than possible price tags.
According to clinical practice, lenacapavir given as two injections a year can prevent someone from contracting HIV Test Results.
US regulatory approval is expected on June 19th, urging manufacturer Gilead to keep costs as low as possible.
The company has not yet disclosed drug prices, but that It is estimated It has been reported It is likely to be comparable to current preventive medications that cost around $25,000 (£18,400) a year. As a treatment for people who already live with HIV, it costs money Approximately $39,000 per year.
However, it can be made for just $25 (£18.40) per year, including a 30% profit margin, suggesting an analysis from the University of Liverpool and others.
One of the researchers, Dr Andrew Hill, said making Lenacapaville out of control in a country with an HIV epidemic only makes things worse.
“Even high-income countries cannot use Renacapaville on a large scale for prices above $20,000 a year.”
hill I was calculating a typical price of $40 a year. Last year, however, he said that interest from the general manufacturers had assured new analysis. This indicates that the Renacapaville could be mass-produced for between $35 and $46 a year. If there was annual demand for a 200m dose, it would have dropped to $25, increasing production of doses from 5m to 100m each year.
In 2023, there was a new 1.3m HIV infection. The World Health Organization says Approximately 10 million people need to take HIV preventive medication To achieve global goals.
Dr. Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director of UNAIDS, said: “We have been urging Gilead to make the Lenakapaville available. Dr. Hill’s research shows that this gamechanging innovation will be produced within a year and sold for just $25 per person per year.
middle A widespread fear that aid reductions can see decades of progress reversal In controlling HIV, Byanyima said long-acting prophylactic drugs such as lenacapavir can provide a breakthrough to the country and “turn off taps of new infectious diseases.”
She called on Gilead to “do the right thing, save countless lives, and end this pandemic.”
Gilead We have agreed with six generic companies To allow production of a low-cost version of the Renacapaville 120 low-income countriesand promised to supply dosages to around 2 million people without profits before general supplies hit the market.
European regulatory approval, Promotes approval in many low- and middle-income countriesexpected later this year.
However, campaigners say that countries where a third of new HIV cases have been excluded by the Gilead scheme, which includes parts of Brazil, Argentina and Eastern Europe.
In a statement, Gilead said the company “understands the importance of access to the Renakapaville at PREP. [pre-exposure prophylaxis] If it is approved, we are taking steps to plan access to Renakapaville for global preparation at an unprecedented speed.
The company said its external price estimates are based on the assumption that HIV prophylactic use is higher than is currently or expected. The global price plan was underway, and it said it took into account “nearly 20 years of research and development, constant learning and iteration, manufacturing investments to provide the Renacapa Building on a large scale.”
