New HIV Drug Could Be Produced for Just $40 Annually Say Researchers

Researchers estimate the cost of producing the new HIV drug Lenacapavir, currently over $40,000 annually, could drop to just $40, potentially transforming HIV prevention.

Key Points

• Lenacapavir, an HIV drug costing over $40,000 annually, could be made for just $40.
• Developed by Gilead, Lenacapavir is highly effective and requires only two injections per year.
• Lowering production costs could make the drug accessible to millions at high risk.
• There are calls for Gilead to allow generic production in low- and middle-income countries.
• Past examples show significant cost reductions when generic versions are permitted.

A new “vaccine-like” HIV drug, Lenacapavir, currently priced at over $40,000 per person annually, could potentially be produced for as little as $40, according to researchers. This drastic reduction in cost could make the life-saving treatment accessible to millions around the world, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.

Developed by the US pharmaceutical giant Gilead, Lenacapavir is an antiretroviral drug that has shown 100 percent effectiveness in early trials for preventing HIV infection. Unlike existing treatments that require daily pills, Lenacapavir only needs to be injected twice a year, making it significantly easier for patients to manage.

Andrew Hill, a researcher at Liverpool University in the UK, described the drug as “like having a vaccine basically.” He presented the research at the International AIDS Conference in Munich, explaining that the cost of producing Lenacapavir could drop to $40 per year if Gilead permits the manufacturing of cheaper generic versions. This estimate is based on production volumes large enough to treat 10 million people.

The drug’s high current cost is a barrier to widespread use, particularly in countries where healthcare budgets are limited. However, Hill’s team, which has a track record of accurate cost predictions, believes that significant savings are achievable. They previously estimated that Gilead’s hepatitis C drug, originally priced at $84,000 per patient, could be produced for $100 if generics were allowed. Today, the cost to cure hepatitis C is just under $40.

Lowering the cost of Lenacapavir could have a transformative impact on HIV prevention, especially for high-risk groups such as gay and bisexual men, sex workers, prisoners, and young women in Africa. “It could basically shut down HIV transmission,” Hill emphasized.

The call for affordable access to Lenacapavir has been echoed by UNAIDS chief Winnie Byanyima, who urged Gilead to open the drug to the UN-backed Medicines Patent Pool, allowing generic versions to be sold in low- and middle-income nations. “Gilead has an opportunity to save the world,” Byanyima stated.

Gilead has indicated that it is in talks with various governments and organizations to make the drug more accessible. However, the company has not yet disclosed pricing details for developing countries or specified which nations might be able to access generic versions.

The potential to dramatically reduce the cost of Lenacapavir and increase its availability represents a critical step in the global fight against HIV. As efforts continue to secure affordable access, the hope is that millions of lives can be improved and HIV transmission significantly reduced.