A groundbreaking agreement has been reached to make a revolutionary HIV prevention treatment, lenacapavir, more affordable and accessible to low- and middle-income countries. The treatment, which is nearly 100% effective, will be available at a cost of $40 per person per year, with the initial oral dose priced at no more than $17. This pricing breakthrough is a significant milestone in the global effort to combat HIV and AIDS.
The agreement is the result of a partnership between Unitaid, the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), and Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories, a global pharmaceutical company. Dr. Reddy’s is one of the first generic suppliers to come to market, which will help establish a competitive landscape and keep prices low. This is critical for scaling up access to the treatment and ensuring that it reaches those who need it most.
Unitaid is working to integrate lenacapavir into HIV prevention programs, supporting policy and regulatory processes, and working with communities and health systems to ensure rapid and effective uptake. The organization is also supporting real-world research to answer key implementation questions and developing new investments to support decentralized, community-based delivery approaches.
The CEO of CHAI, Buddy Shah, praised the agreement, stating that it marks a new model for how innovation can reach those who need it most. He noted that for too long, low-income countries have waited years for access to breakthrough medicines, but this deal changes that. By 2027, lenacapavir will be affordable and available at the same time globally, which will have a significant impact on the global fight against HIV and AIDS.
Unitaid remains committed to addressing access barriers in countries not covered by the existing agreements, and the organization will continue to work with partners to ensure that lenacapavir is available to all those who need it. The agreement is a significant step forward in the global effort to combat HIV and AIDS, and it highlights the importance of partnerships and collaborations in making innovative treatments more affordable and accessible to low- and middle-income countries.