A game-changing injectable drug that prevents HIV transmission will soon be available at a drastically reduced price of $40 per year in more than 120 low- and middle-income countries, starting in 2027.
Unitaid and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation announced on Wednesday that they had signed agreements with Indian pharmaceutical manufacturers to produce generic versions of lenacapavir, a twice-yearly injection proven to cut the risk of HIV infection by over 99.9 percent.
Currently sold under the brand name Yeztugo by US-based Gilead Sciences, lenacapavir costs around $28,000 annually in the United States.
Experts say the introduction of cheaper generics will be vital for scaling up HIV prevention in regions hardest hit by the epidemic.
“This is really critical for ending HIV transmission globally,” said Carmen Perez Casas, Unitaid’s HIV strategic lead. “Now, with this product, we can end HIV.”
A New Era in HIV Prevention
The generic rollout will begin with production in India, through partnerships with Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories, the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), and Wits RHI. The Gates Foundation also revealed a similar agreement with Indian drugmaker Hetero.
“Scientific advances like lenacapavir can help us end the HIV epidemic, if they are made accessible to the people who need them most,” said Trevor Mundel, head of global health at the Gates Foundation.
The initiative builds on Gilead’s earlier move in 2024 to license six drugmakers to manufacture long-acting HIV prevention drugs for poorer nations.
The Bigger Picture
Since 2010, global HIV prevention programs have cut new infections by about 40 percent.
However, the epidemic persists. UNAIDS reported that 1.3 million people contracted HIV in 2024 alone, underscoring the urgent need for affordable, innovative prevention tools.
Pending the 2027 rollout of generics, an interim deal between Gilead and the Global Fund will expand access to lenacapavir in lower-income countries.
The United States recently confirmed it would continue supporting the project, despite foreign aid cuts pushed by President Donald Trump. The first doses are expected to reach at least one African nation before the end of 2025.
A Turning Point
For health advocates, this move represents a breakthrough moment in the decades-long fight against HIV/AIDS. By lowering costs and ensuring wider access, experts believe lenacapavir could significantly reduce new infections and accelerate progress tow
ard ending the epidemic.
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