A new “vaccine-like” HIV drug, currently priced at over $40,000 per person annually, could potentially be produced for just $40, according to researchers’ estimates presented on Tuesday.
The antiretroviral drug Lenacapavir, developed by Gilead Sciences, has been recognized as a potential breakthrough in HIV treatment. Initial trials have shown it to be 100 percent effective in preventing HIV infection and requiring only two injections per year, which simplifies administration compared to daily pills.
“It’s essentially like having a vaccine,” said Andrew Hill, a researcher from Liverpool University.
At present, the drug costs over $40,000 annually in various countries, including the United States, France, Norway, and Australia.
Research presented by Hill at the International AIDS Conference in Munich suggests that if Gilead permitted the production of cheaper generic versions, the cost of a year’s supply could drop to as low as $40—1,000 times less than the current price. This research has not yet been peer-reviewed.
