Trump Takes Credit for Lenacapavir Deal after His Administration Decimated U.S. International AIDS Prevention Programs
The deal with Gilead itself is wildly insufficient and excludes some countries in need
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Gilead Sciences, the Global Fund, and the U.S. Department of State announced the delivery of 1000 doses of the new HIV prevention drug lenacapavir to Zambia and Eswatini, as part of an initiative to supply the medicine to two million people in a subset of high-burden developing countries over three years.
Peter Maybarduk, Access to Medicines Director for Public Citizen, released the following statement:
“Trump’s decimation of HIV/AIDS programs is projected to lead to millions of new HIV infections. His plans to aggressively transition countries off U.S. support will cost people their very lives. This government sabotaged the global fight against AIDS. It will be very difficult to rebuild, and today’s announcement does not come close. Some of the losses are forever.
“Excluding South Africa is a petty and cruel choice that makes plain, again, that Trump’s health strategy is not about health at all, but vanity and control. It is a small idea from a small man.
“Gilead’s deal excludes many middle-income countries with growing HIV epidemics from an affordability solution, and continues to slow-walk lenacapavir registration in most of the world. Generic lenacapavir can be made at a profit for $40 a year. That price must be made available to all low- and middle-income countries.
“Two million doses is not nearly enough to deliver on the revolutionary promise of long-acting HIV prevention. We need much greater commitments, from the United States and other governments, from Gilead Sciences and drugmakers, and from global donors, including to rebuild service delivery and community programming. There is a tremendous opportunity to all but abolish the fear and devastation this disease has wrought on all countries for decades. It would be foolish not to raise ambition.”