Donors Agree to Fund Production of Cheaper Generic HIV Injection Lenacapivir

Two new agreements to produce generic versions of HIV drug Lenacapavir have been announced.

The generic versions will advance progress in stopping new infections, HIV advocates have said.

Lenacapavir, produced by US company Gilead, is a revolutionary new medicine that prevents HIV infection with injections just twice a year. However the current price of lenacapavir for HIV treatment in the US is USD 28,000 per person per year. This is too prohibitive to be afforded by all.

The new agreements, crafted with generic producers, would bring the price for HIV prevention down to just USD 40 per person per year.

A price of USD 40 per person per year is a leap forward that will help to unlock the revolutionary potential of long-acting HIV medicines, says Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director of UNAIDS.

The agreements were announced on Wednesday evening during the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

UNITAID, the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), and Wits RHI are providing financial, technical, and regulatory support to Indian generic manufacturer Dr Reddy’s Laboratories, enabling the annual cost of injections to come to just USD 40.

An initial oral dose required alongside the first injections will cost no more than USD 17 under the agreement.   The Gates Foundation will support Indian generic manufacturer Hetero Drugs with upfront funding and volume guarantees to ensure a cost of around USD 40 per patient per year following the short pre-treatment oral regimen.   

Activists say the new long-acting medicines will make preventing HIV easier and more accessible for people most in need. They say lenacapavir will add to the suite of HIV prevention options currently available, including condoms, vaginal rings and daily prevention pills.

PURPOSE 2 Trial results published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that lenacapavir was between 96% and100% effective in preventing new HIV infections.

Research published in The Lancet HIV earlier this year, experts estimated that, if purchased at scale, the cost of generic lenacapavir could range from USD 35 to USD 46 per person-year. Falling to USD 25 with high demand, making the medicine affordable even for low-income countries.