A new HIV prevention drug, lenacapavir, has shown 100% effectiveness in women and near-perfect results in men during trials. Marketed as Sunlenca, the twice-yearly injection offers a groundbreaking alternative to daily pills or bi-monthly shots, particularly for marginalized populations like sex workers and young women. Drugmaker Gilead plans to sell generic versions in 120 high-HIV-burden countries, primarily in Africa and Southeast Asia, but has excluded much of Latin America, raising equity concerns.
Advocacy groups in nations like Mexico and Brazil are urging Gilead to expand access as HIV rates rise in their regions. Experts say generics could be produced for as little as $40 per treatment, a stark contrast to the $40,000 price tag in wealthier countries. Calls for compulsory licenses, which allow countries to bypass patents in health crises, are growing louder to ensure access.
The challenge now lies in making this revolutionary treatment widely available. Experts emphasize the urgent need to expand prevention tools globally to curb over 1 million new HIV infections annually.
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