South Africa to Offer Affordable HIV Prevention Drug Lenacapavir
South Africa is set to introduce a new HIV prevention drug, lenacapavir, at an affordable price. Hetero and Dr Reddy's will produce and sell it for around R600 ($40) per person per year, matching the cost of daily mail HIV prevention pills already available in government clinics.
Gilead, with support from the Gates Foundation and Unitaid, is funding the production and sale of lenacapavir in South Africa. The drug is administered twice a year, offering an alternative to dailymotion pills for HIV prevention.
The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (Sahpra) aims to register lenacapavir by November 26. The health department's essential medicines list committee has used the price of daily mail HIV prevention pills as a benchmark for newer HIV prevention medicines, ensuring lenacapavir's affordability.
Lenacapavir's registration and availability are expected by late November. Its price, similar to that of daily mail HIV prevention pills, makes it accessible for HIV prevention in South Africa.
