The World Health Organization (WHO) recommended that countries include Lenacapavir for the prevention of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). The medicine was recently approved and is considered a tool to combat HIV infectionsespecially for groups with greater risk and in high disease areas.
The global recommendation, issued on Monday in the International Conference on AIDS in Kigali, Rwanda, It arrives approximately a month after the US food and medication administration (FDAfor its acronym in English) will approve Lenacapavir as semiannual injection for HIV prevention.
Lenacapavir had been approved in 2022 to treat certain HIV infections and, in clinical trials for prevention, it was demonstrated that it drastically reduces the risk of infection and provides almost total protection against HIV.
An HIV injection, WHO recommendation
“These new recommendations are designed for practical application. WHO collaborates closely with countries and their partners to support its implementation, ”said the director of the World programs department against HIV, Hepatitis and WHO sexually transmitted infectionsthe doctor Meg Doherty In a press conference.
In that line, the director added that “The first recommendation” It is to offer this “injectable of prolonged action, as an additional prevention option for people at risk of contracting HIV and as part of combined prevention.” Therefore, We consider it a firm recommendation With a certainty of moderate to high evidence, ”he said.
The second recommendation of the guidelines is that they can be used Quick diagnostic tests to detect HIV when starting, continuing or suspending prolonged action medication to prevent infection, known as Pre -exposition or prepos prophylaxis. According to the latest 2023 WHO data, about 40 million people lived with HIV worldwide.
PREP was used to prevent HIV infections for years. But Lenacapavir’s semiannual injections, or Len, became another option in global prevention tools.
“Len is a semiannual injectable option and can be especially attractive to those who prefer Less visits to the clinic or have difficulties with daily oral prep. (…) Could improve adhesion and reach more people who need HIV prevention, and can be used in pregnant women and infants, ”said Doherty by appointment with CNN.
HIV financing, a slope
“WHO is providing technical assistance to countries interested in adopting the LEN and simplified evidence strategies, in coordination with global partners such as the World Fund, Unusida and other partners and donors”The doctor added.
According to them United Nationsinternational assistance represents the 80% of prevention programs in low and medium income countries. However, in the last six months, the US significantly withdrew the financing of much of its foreign assistance.
The management of Donald Trump dismantled the US agency for international development (USAID) and reduced financing for the President’s emergency plan for AIDS relief, or Pepfarwhich acts as the greatest commitment of any nation to address a single disease in history.
The manufacturer of Lenacapavir, the company Gilead Scienceson Wednesday an agreement announced with the World Fight against AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, A non -profit organization, to supply the medicine as a prevention without generating profits for the company. According to this agreement, Gilead’s price only reflects the Production and distribution cost.
“We are providing the non-profit medication to Gilead, and in sufficient amounts to reach two million people in low and medium-low income countries before the generic Lenacapavir is available,” said the President and CEO of Gilead, Daniel O’Dayin a press release.
The US is the only country where Lenacapavir received approval for disease prevention, under the annual list price of US $ 28,218. “Our ambition is to reach 2 million people with prolonged action. But we can only achieve it if the world contributes the necessary resources,” said the Laboratory CEO.
Source: Ambito
