Landmark Deal opens a path for protection against HIV / AIDS cheaper Jab

A new HIV prevention drug will be made available at a lower cost in more than 100 low -income countries within two years – a decision that should give millions access to pierced treatment and potentially bring the world closer to the end of the HIV / AIDS epidemic.

The medication, called Lenacapavir and administered by injection, should be deployed at the end of this year, at a cost of $ 28,000 (£ 20,000) per person per year.

But Wednesday’s announcement promises to reduce this price to only $ 40 – approximately 0.1% of the original cost. The at lower cost version will be deployed in 2027 in 120 low and intermediate income countries.

Scientists say that the drug prevents the virus from reproducing cells inside.

The historic agreement to provide cheaper antiretroviral drugs to people with HIV in developing countries has been negotiated by former American president Bill Clinton after negotiations with pharmaceutical companies.

The agreement announced Wednesday was concluded between the Clinton Foundation in partnership with the Gates Foundation and other groups, including the Research Institute in South Africa, Wits RHI.

Lenacapavir gave impressive test results and, in July, he received official support from the World Health Organization for HIV prevention.

The injection is taken twice a year and offers six months of protection against HIV infection at a time.

Experts say that prolonged action injectables like Lenacapavir could help reduce new infections in the most vulnerable populations, including adolescent girls and young women, LGBT people, sex workers and those who consume drugs.

It is to be hoped that it will replace the current form of preventive drug HIV, known as PREP, or pre-exhibition prophylaxis, which is taken orally and also costs $ 40 per person each year.

The pills are taken daily, which can be difficult to consume for patients and can transport stigma in certain companies. The daily dose also makes access more difficultly access. According to the Gates Foundation, only 18% of those who could benefit from the preparation currently have access.

Lenacapavir has already been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration and the European Commission this year.

Last year, in June, the American pharmaceutical company Gilead announced that a test of its Lenacapavir of HIV drugs had a success rate of 100%.

The new generic version is still awaiting regulatory approval, but we hope it will be available within 18 months.

A study indicates that the increase in access to injection to only 4% of the population could prevent up to 20% of new HIV infections.

The drug can be used to protect people against virus capture, but also to treat those who have it, according to scientists.

The announcement comes in the middle of a turbulent year for global health, in particular the fight against HIV and AIDS, after Swingtes Cups by the USAID government foreign aid program under the Trump administration.

According to UNAIDS, more than 40 million people are currently living with HIV.

Despite enormous progress made to reduce the world rates of HIV and AIDS deaths since 2000, around 1.3 million people still contracted HIV last year and more than 600,000 people died of AIDS -related diseases.

South Africa remains the country with the greatest number of HIV cases, with almost eight million people living with the virus. It will be one of the countries to access the new cheaper medication.

Additional Akisa Wandera reports in Nairobi