Lenacapavir: could new HIV drug help end the pandemic?

Africa Daily

“That will be a miracle on its own because when I started taking ARVs I began with 20 tablets.”

In June, the US drug company Gilead announced that a trial of its HIV drug Lenacapavir had got a 100% success rate.

The drug - a twice-yearly injection – can be used to protect people from catching the virus, but also to treat those who have it.

But the question of pricing remains – with people in poor countries unable to afford the current price tag of $40,000 per person per year. One analysis has suggested it could be mass produced as a generic drug for about $40 per person per year.

In this episode of Africa Daily podcast Peter Musembi speaks to Dr Moupali Das who oversees the development of HIV prevention drugs at Gilead – and also gets reaction with two people living with HIV.