Poorer countries get access to HIV prevention drug

GENEVA, Switzerland (AFP) — Lower-income countries will gain access to a “game-changing” HIV prevention drug with a new deal signed between with US pharmaceutical giant Gilead and the Global Fund, the health financing group said Wednesday.

The group set up to battle AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, described the deal to procure lenacapavir for low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) as “a significant milestone.”

“This marks the first time in history that an HIV prevention product will be introduced in LMICs at the same time as in high-income countries,” the Global Fund said in a statement.

Drugs to prevent HIV transmission, known as pre-exposure prophylaxis or PrEP, have existed for more than a decade. But because they typically require taking a daily pill, they have yet to make a significant dent in global infections.

“This is not just a scientific breakthrough -— it’s a turning point for HIV/AIDS,” Global Fund chief Peter Sands said.

“For the first time, we have a tool that can fundamentally change the trajectory of the HIV epidemic -— but only if we get it to the people who need it most.”