Health Reporter
Zimbabwe is among the top 18 countries prioritized to receive lenacapavir, a groundbreaking HIV preventive drug, thanks to a non-exclusive licensing agreement between Gilead Sciences and Hetero Group of Companies. This partnership aims to broaden access to lenacapavir, a novel HIV treatment that can be used in combination with other antiretrovirals and supports HIV prevention through pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP).
According to Daniel O’Day, Chairman and CEO of Gilead, “Given the transformative potential of lenacapavir for prevention, our focus is on making it available as quickly and broadly as possible where the need is greatest.” Gilead plans to provide lenacapavir at no profit until generic manufacturers can meet demand.
Key Highlights:
- Prioritized Countries: Botswana, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Philippines, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Thailand, Uganda, Vietnam, Zambia, and Zimbabwe will receive lenacapavir first.
- Generic Manufacturing: Hetero, Dr. Reddy’s, Emcure, Eva Pharma, Ferozsons, and Mylan will produce and distribute lenacapavir in 120 countries.
- Lenacapavir Benefits: This HIV-1 capsid inhibitor treats multi-drug-resistant HIV-1 infections and targets multiple stages of the HIV lifecycle, making it highly effective for patients with limited treatment options.
Dr. Vamsi Krishna Bandi, Managing Director of Hetero Group of Companies, emphasized,
“This partnership strengthens our resolve to push the boundaries of HIV prevention and treatment. We’ve pioneered affordable, life-saving treatments for over three decades, addressing nearly 40% of the global HIV/AIDS population”.
AVAC advocates for non-exclusive licenses to multiple generic manufacturers, public license agreements, and access based on public health imperatives, not geographical location. With this partnership, Zimbabwe and other prioritized countries will soon have access to this lifesaving treatment.
Zim GBC News©2024