Drug company reaches direct deal for HIV prevention

Gilead Sciences has struck a deal with drug manufacturers for its game-changing HIV prevention drug to be made and sold in 120 countries. The latest clinical trial data for lenacapavir found the twice-yearly injection was 96 per cent effective in preventing HIV infections in a study of 3,200 men, trans men, trans women, and non-binary individuals. An earlier trial found it was 100 per cent effective in a study of 5,300 women. Gilead’s new deal means companies in countries with a high incidence of HIV but limited resources can now produce lenacapavir at scale, given regulatory approval. It could significantly slow the tide of HIV infections, particularly in the most affected regions of Africa. The snag? Campaigners say Gilead’s approach is “flawed” because deals were done direct with manufacturers rather than through an independent licensing body like the United Nations Medicines Patent Pool, which they argue widens access.