New HIV Prevention Method Causes Excitement and Protests

A groundbreaking study presented at the AIDS 2024 Conference in Munich has ignited discussions surrounding a new HIV prevention method. The double-blind, randomized trial involved 5,300 cisgender women from South Africa and Uganda, comparing the efficacy of an injectable treatment, lenacapavir, against two daily PrEP pills, Truvada and Descovy. Results indicated that participants on oral PrEP maintained an infection rate of approximately 2%, aligning with previous clinical trials, while lenacapavir promises a more effective alternative requiring only one injection every two months after an initial dose. Despite the promising results, lenacapavir's high cost in the U.S., estimated at $42,250 per patient annually, raises concerns about accessibility. Dr. Grant emphasized that the primary barrier to HIV prevention is not the medication itself but the ability to access it. Activists in Uganda and South Africa are advocating for Gilead Sciences to license lenacapavir to the Medicines Patent Pool, aiming to enhance availability in resource-limited settings. Recent analyses suggest that the price of injectable lenacapavir could potentially drop to between $26 and $40 per patient per year, a significant reduction compared to its current U.S. price. In light of these findings, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) activists at the conference called for urgent global action to dismantle Gilead's monopoly on the drug. As Gilead awaits further trial results and potential FDA approval, the future pricing and accessibility of lenacapavir remain uncertain, though the company has expressed a commitment to affordable pricing in high-incidence regions.