Dr. Reddys Will Make And Sell $40/Year HIV Stopping Drug (Generic Version) In 120 Countries -- In Gilead's Humanitarian Licensing Deal

This is very, very good news. And it likely would not have come to pass, without forward thinking public stewards, like those at the Clinton Health Access Initiative. You see, there still are many many (the vast majority, in fact of) Americans who believe we owe a duty -- to our fellow humans, for our relative good fortune. This is gratifying -- beyond words.

This "near cure", as a preventer of AIDS, will now be more affordable in the parts of the world where price would be a daunting obstacle. Here's Fierce's story on it all -- and a bit:

. . .Generics of Gilead Sciences' twice-yearly HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) Yeztugo (lenacapavir) are on the horizon, with India's Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories and Hetero Labs striking separate agreements with global access groups to support their respective launches.

Unitaid, the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) and Wits RHI -- a South African HIV research institute -- are teaming up with Dr. Reddy’s to provide the PrEP drug for $40 per year in 120 low- and middle-income countries starting in 2027. The $40 price point puts the long-acting injectable on par with daily oral PrEP meds, according to CHAI.

“It’s a new model for how innovation reaches those who need it the most,” CHAI’s CEO Buddy Shah said in a press release. . . .

Excellent -- now you know. And to be sure, $40/year is still going to be "out of reach" -- for many households of limited means in the still developing world -- but it is a start. A good start. [The drug costs over $28,000 a year in Japan, the EU, UK and US.] Onward, smiling. . . ever, smiling.

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