Gilead Grants Licenses for Cheaper HIV Prevention Drugs

Gilead Sciences has issued royalty-free licenses to six generic drug manufacturers to produce and sell cost-effective versions of its HIV prevention medicine in 120 low and middle-income countries. The U.S.-based company will also provide its branded drug lenacapavir in 18 markets temporarily. However, advocacy groups criticize the agreement’s limited country coverage.

Gilead Sciences announced on Wednesday that it has granted royalty-free licenses to six generic drug manufacturers, enabling them to make and sell cheaper versions of its HIV prevention medicine in 120 low and lower-middle income countries. The U.S.-based pharmaceutical giant also revealed plans to provide its branded version of the drug, lenacapavir, in 18 nations including Botswana, Ethiopia, and Kenya until these manufacturers can fully meet demand.

The licensing deals, aligned with companies from India, the United States, Egypt, and Pakistan, have been established amid calls from activists and civil rights groups for broader access to affordable HIV treatments. This initiative aims to cover around 70% of global HIV cases.

However, the advocacy group People's Medicines Alliance criticized the agreement for not including several countries, especially in Latin America. While lenacapavir is not yet approved for HIV prevention, it has received regulatory approval in multiple nations, including the U.S., for treating multi-drug-resistant HIV in combination with other antiretrovirals.