AHF welcomes Gilead-PAHO deal for lenacapavir access in Latin America
- AHF welcomes Gilead-PAHO deal expanding lenacapavir access in 14 Latin American countries
- Agreement viewed as victory for civil society after initial WHO deal excluded region
- AHF urges genuinely affordable pricing to avoid cost contradictions vs treatment
- Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Peru provided trial data but were initially excluded
- Study shows impact depends on reduced prices and user acceptability
*this image is generated using AI for illustrative purposes only.
The AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) has welcomed a new agreement between Gilead Sciences and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) to expand access to lenacapavir for HIV prevention in 14 countries across Latin America.
AHF, the world’s largest HIV care provider, described the deal as a positive step and a victory for civil society. The organization was among the first to mobilize against the initial Gilead-WHO agreement, which excluded Latin American nations. AHF joined other groups in calling for an expanded arrangement that includes the region.
Pricing and Public Health Impact
Dr. Jorge Saavedra, Executive Director of the AHF Global Public Health Institute, emphasized that the new arrangement must aim for genuinely affordable pricing, not just fair prices. He noted that prevention should be less expensive than treatment to avoid economic contradictions for governments.
"How can a Latin American government be convinced to pay more for lenacapavir for prevention if antiretroviral treatment is less expensive and also serves as secondary prevention?" Dr. Saavedra asked. He highlighted that this creates a major public health and economic contradiction if prevention costs exceed treatment costs.
Clinical Evidence and Access Barriers
Dr. Patricia Campos, AHF Bureau Chief for Latin America and the Caribbean, pointed out that Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, and Peru contributed clinical evidence for lenacapavir through Gilead’s pivotal PURPOSE 2 trial. Despite this contribution, these countries were excluded from the company’s original voluntary licensing arrangement.
"People who help make medical innovation possible should not then find themselves on the wrong side of an access barrier," Dr. Campos stated.
AHF also conducted a study with the National Institute of Public Health of Mexico examining lenacapavir’s potential impact in the region. The study found that achieving greater public health impact depends on significantly reduced prices and acceptability among potential users.
Transparency and Next Steps
AHF urged Gilead and PAHO to make key terms transparent, including pricing, timelines, and regulatory requirements. While acknowledging lenacapavir’s high effectiveness, AHF stressed it is not a silver bullet for controlling the HIV epidemic. Acceptability among at-risk populations remains critical.
The foundation plans to continue working with governments and partners to advocate for equitable access to lenacapavir alongside other proven prevention tools, such as condoms. AHF provides care to more than 3 million people across 50 countries.
Key Stakeholders
| Stakeholder | Role / Action |
|---|---|
| Gilead Sciences | Entered new agreement with PAHO for lenacapavir access |
| PAHO | Partnered with Gilead to expand prevention in 14 countries |
| AHF | Advocated for inclusion of Latin American countries |
| Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Peru | Provided clinical evidence; previously excluded from licensing |
What the Numbers Show
The source highlights a divergence between clinical contribution and initial market access: four key Latin American nations (Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Peru) generated pivotal trial data yet were excluded from the original voluntary license. This underscores the dependency on civil society pressure to correct access barriers despite prior scientific investment by these regions.
How will Gilead structure the pricing model for lenacapavir in Latin America to ensure it remains lower than antiretroviral treatment costs, thereby resolving the economic contradiction highlighted by AHF?
What specific regulatory or logistical hurdles might delay the rollout of lenacapavir in Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, and Peru now that they are included in the PAHO agreement?
To what extent will civil society groups continue to monitor Gilead and PAHO to ensure the transparency of key terms, such as volume commitments and long-term supply guarantees?
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