PARIS: Researchers have revealed that a new “vaccine-like” HIV drug, currently priced at over $40,000 per person annually, could potentially be produced for as little as $40.
According to researchers, the antiretroviral drug, Lenacapavir, developed by US pharmaceutical giant Gilead, has been termed a potential game-changer in the fight against HIV.
They say early trials have found the treatment to be 100 percent effective in preventing HIV infection and requires only biannual injections, simplifying administration compared to current daily pill regimens.
“It’s like having a vaccine, basically,” Andrew Hill, a researcher at the UK’s Liverpool University, told AFP.
Currently, the treatment costs patients over $40,000 annually in several countries, including the United States, France, Norway, and Australia.