Two major clinical trials have revealed the unprecedented effectiveness of lenacapavir, a long-acting, injectable HIV-prevention drug that only requires dosing every six months. The drug was found to be 89% more effective in preventing HIV among gay, bisexual, and transgender people, and 100% effective in cisgender women. Advocates are hopeful that lenacapavir could be a game changer in the fight against the HIV epidemic.
However, the high cost of lenacapavir poses a significant barrier to widespread access. Gilead Sciences, the manufacturer of the drug, has not yet indicated whether they will set a different price for its use as prevention compared to its current use as treatment. This raises concerns about whether insurers will make the drug widely available to those who need it, especially in marginalized communities.
While lenacapavir’s clinical trial results are promising, the issue of affordability and access must be addressed to ensure that the drug can have the desired public health impact. The drug’s potential to protect populations at high risk for HIV, such as Black and Latino gay and bisexual men, is significant. Advocates are calling for the drug to be made accessible at a scalable cost in lower-income countries as well.
Gilead plans to submit lenacapavir for approval for use as PrEP to the FDA by the end of the year, with hopes of it hitting the U.S. market by mid-to-late 2025. The high effectiveness of lenacapavir in clinical trials underscores the urgent need for an HIV-prevention upgrade, particularly in communities most affected by the epidemic.
Photo credit
www.nbcnews.com