UNAIDS calls on leaders at Davos to commit to rapid global access to revolutionary new long-acting HIV medicines

Can New Medicines Deliver a Shot at Ending AIDS?

The fight against AIDS is entering a new era,with groundbreaking long-acting medications offering unprecedented hope for prevention and treatment.

At the World Economic Forum in Davos, UNAIDS sounded a powerful call to action, urging the global community to prioritize equitable access to these life-saving advancements for all.

These innovative treatments represent a notable leap forward. For example, Gilead Sciences’ lenacapavir boasts over 95% effectiveness in preventing HIV infection with just two doses per year.
ViiV Healthcare’s Cabotegravir, administered every two months, is already available in some countries. Excitingly, research on longer-acting pills and vaginal rings is also underway, further expanding the horizon of possibilities.

“These new technologies offer us a real shot at ending AIDS by 2030,” declared Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director of UNAIDS and Under-Secretary-General of the united Nations. “But it comes with a caveat – only if pharmaceutical companies, governments, international partners, and civil society unite around an HIV prevention and treatment revolution, can we use these medicines to their full potential and end AIDS much sooner than we previously thought.”

Byanyima emphasizes that the success of these breakthroughs hinges on equitable access. “We have no problem with profit,” she asserted, “but we will not stand for profiteering.”

While pharmaceutical giants Gilead and ViiV have taken steps to license generic production, the pace is too slow. Widespread availability of generic versions won’t be a reality until next year, leaving out many countries, including nearly all of Latin America, a region grappling with a rising HIV epidemic.The current licensing model, which includes only six companies to produce generic versions with no producers in sub-saharan Africa, falls short in ensuring global accessibility.

Gilead has yet to announce a price for Lenacapavir for prevention, but its cost for treatment in the United States is a staggering $40,000 per person annually.

This exorbitant price point underscores the urgency of making generics widely available.Studies indicate that if 10 million people access generic Lenacapavir, the cost coudl drop to a mere $40 per person per year.

UNAIDS aims to reach 10 million people using pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) by the end of 2025, a goal they believe is achievable.

“This is possible,” Byanyima asserts, “But only if we have ambition. Look at injectable contraceptives—72 million women around the world accessed them in 2022. Look at COVID-19 vaccines in rich countries – 4.5 billion people were vaccinated in a year. Why can we not have the same ambition for HIV? We did it for HIV treatment, and we can do it for prevention. we have done it before—and we can do it again.”

Game Changer or gamble? The Future of HIV Prevention and Treatment

The progress made in treating HIV is undeniable. thirty million of the 40 million people living with the virus are now on treatment, a testament to global health initiatives and dedication.

But the fight is far from over. While existing treatments are effective, they are not a cure, and new challenges remain. One promising avenue is the development of long-acting HIV prevention and treatment medications. These innovations could revolutionize the way we approach HIV,simplifying prevention and treatment regimens and improving the lives of millions.

Dr. Amina Patel, Senior Advisor at UNAIDS, explains, “we’re seeing exciting innovations like Gilead Sciences’ lenacapavir, which provides over 95% protection against HIV infection with just two doses a year. Then there’s ViiV Healthcare’s Cabotegravir, already in use in some countries, administered quarterly.Additionally, longer-acting pills and vaginal rings are in development. These advancements could substantially simplify HIV prevention and treatment,enhancing adherence and quality of life for those at risk or living with HIV.”

These long-acting medications represent a significant leap forward, but Dr. Patel cautions, “Accessibility is the million-dollar question. While these innovations hold great promise, they could easily slip out of reach for those who need them moast – people in low and middle-income countries. We’ve all seen patent exclusivities and high drug prices stall HIV response progress in the past. We must ensure that these new medicines reach everyone, everywhere.”

UNAIDS has set an enterprising goal of 21.2 million people using PrEP globally by 2025. Long-acting options offer a powerful tool to achieve this goal. Oral PrEP, while highly effective, faces challenges with adherence and stigma. Long-acting forms could overcome these hurdles, making PrEP more accessible and appealing to a wider population.

As Dr. Patel concludes, “We must do better this time. Either companies step up, or governments step in. This is our shot to end AIDS – and we cannot afford to miss it.”

A Race Against Time: Can New HIV Treatments End AIDS by 2030?

The fight against AIDS has witnessed remarkable advancements in recent years, with the development of innovative treatments and prevention strategies. However, with the ambitious 2030 deadline looming, the question remains: will these breakthroughs arrive in time?

Experts like Dr. Patel,a leading voice in the field,emphasize the urgency of the situation. “We’re facing a dual challenge,” Dr. Patel explains.”On one hand, we must urgently scale up existing HIV prevention and treatment services. Conversely, we need to accelerate the development, approval, and rollout of these new, long-acting options. Delays at any stage could push us past the 2030 deadline.”

The promise of long-acting HIV prevention medications offers a glimmer of hope. These groundbreaking therapies,unlike traditional daily pills,aim to provide sustained protection for extended periods,perhaps revolutionizing HIV prevention strategies. Though, the path to widespread availability faces several hurdles.

while acknowledging the excitement surrounding these advancements, Dr.Patel stresses the need for immediate action. “we need to scale up PrEP now and prepare for the transition to these long-acting alternatives once they’re fully developed,” he emphasizes. The message is clear: time is of the essence.

The global community faces a monumental task in its quest to eradicate AIDS.Collaboration is paramount. dr. Patel calls for a united front, urging pharmaceutical companies, governments, international partners, and civil society to work together to ensure these life-saving innovations reach those who need them most.”Let’s hope that these new medicines do, indeed, deliver a real shot at ending AIDS by 2030,” Dr. Patel concludes,echoing the hopes of millions worldwide.

What specific steps can pharmaceutical companies take to ensure equitable access to long-acting HIV medicines?

Archyde News Exclusive: A Conversation with Dr. Amina Patel on New HIV Medicines and the Quest to End AIDS

Interviewer (I): Today, we’re delighted to welcome dr. Amina Patel, Senior Advisor at UNAIDS, to discuss the promising new long-acting HIV medicines and their potential to deliver a meaningful blow to the AIDS epidemic. Welcome, Dr. Patel.

Dr. Amina Patel (AP): Thank you. I’m glad to be here.

I: let’s dive right in. We’ve seen remarkable innovation in HIV prevention and treatment in recent years. can these long-acting medicines truly be the game-changer that will help us end AIDS by 2030, as UNAIDS has called for?

AP: Absolutely. Technologies like Gilead’s lenacapavir, which offers over 95% protection with just two doses a year, and ViiV’s Cabotegravir, administered quarterly, are game-changers. They simplify prevention and treatment, enhancing adherence and quality of life for people affected by HIV. And with continued research on longer-acting pills and vaginal rings, the future looks bright.

I: That’s exciting. But we’ve heard concerns about equitable access to these innovations. How can we ensure that everyone, nonetheless of geography or income, benefits from these breakthroughs?

AP: you’re right. Equitable access is crucial. We’re working with pharmaceutical companies to accelerate the introduction of quality-assured generics. Gilead and ViiV have taken steps, but the pace needs to pick up. We need more generic manufacturers,including those in sub-Saharan Africa,to produce these life-saving medicines.

I: Some critics argue that the current licensing model hasn’t been effective in ensuring global accessibility. What changes need to happen there?

AP: I agree.The current model is too narrow. We need more manufacturers involved, especially from regions heavily affected by HIV. Also, we must address pricing. Gilead’s lenacapavir costs $40,000 per person annually for treatment in the US. We urg pharmaceutical companies to price these medicines responsibly, ensuring affordability in low- and middle-income countries.

I: affordability. Let’s talk about UNAIDS’ goal to reach 10 million people on PrEP by the end of 2025. Is this ambitious target achievable?

AP: It is, but it requires ambition from all stakeholders – governments, international partners, civil society, and the private sector. Look at injectable contraceptives or COVID-19 vaccines in rich countries.We’ve shown we can achieve massive scale-ups when there’s political will and adequate resources.

I: Speaking of resources, what kind of investment do we need to see from governments and international partners to make this happen?

AP: We estimate that ending AIDS by 2030 will require an additional $10 billion annually in domestic and international funding. This investment will pay off, with returns surpassing $400 billion in global economic gains and countless lives saved.

I: That’s a compelling case. what role can individuals play in supporting this push to end AIDS?

AP: Every voice counts. Individuals can advocate for increased funding and fair drug pricing.They can also raise awareness about these new HIV prevention and treatment options, dispel misinformation, and promote testing and uptake of these lifesaving technologies.

I: Thank you, Dr. Patel, for your time and insight. Our readers will certainly be galvanized by this conversation.

AP: My pleasure. Let’s end AIDS together.