Kenya is on the cusp of a major breakthrough in HIV prevention, with a new drug set to become available at a fraction of the usual cost.
Following intense pressure from activists and advocates, Gilead Sciences, a US-based pharmaceutical giant, has agreed to license its experimental HIV prevention drug lenacapavir to six generic drug manufacturers. This move opens the door for cheaper versions of the twice-yearly injectable drug to be produced and sold across 120 low- and middle-income countries, including Kenya.
Lenacapavir has already shown remarkable promise in clinical trials, with only two HIV cases recorded among more than 2,000 participants. For women and adolescent girls in Africa, it provided complete protection against HIV during trials.
As Kenya grapples with the reality of 1.6 million people living with HIV/AIDS and 1.1 million children orphaned by the epidemic, this drug represents a beacon of hope.
An HIV self testing kit.
Photo
MedAccess
Gilead’s decision to license the drug follows months of pressure from HIV advocates who accused the company of prioritising profits over patient welfare. However, this new agreement signals a shift, offering low-cost access to a cutting-edge prevention tool. Generic manufacturers in countries like India and Pakistan will soon be able to produce the drug for as little as $40 annually once regulatory approval is secured.
The drugmaker is already preparing to apply for regulatory approval by the end of the year. Kenya, alongside other countries such as South Africa and Nigeria, is among the 18 nations Gilead has prioritised for early access to lenacapavir.
While manufacturing and distribution will take time, the company has promised to provide branded versions of the drug in these countries until generic production is fully operational.
For Kenya, where the high cost of branded HIV treatments often limits access, the arrival of a low-cost, highly effective prevention option could have life-changing implications.
Lenacapavir’s potential to drastically reduce new infections could be a turning point in the fight against HIV, especially for vulnerable groups such as women, girls, and the LGBTQ+ community.
Gilead’s move to license the drug comes after considerable criticism of the company’s pricing model in wealthier countries. Nonetheless, the licensing agreement covers lenacapavir not only as a prevention drug but also as a treatment for people with multi-drug resistant HIV.
For those who have failed other treatments, this new option could provide a much-needed lifeline. The World Health Organization estimates that nearly 40 million people globally are living with HIV, making access to affordable treatments and prevention methods more crucial than ever.
A photo of an HIV test specimen.
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