Sept 15 (Reuters) – U.S. drugmaker Gilead Sciences said on Tuesday it had reached an agreement with the Pan American Health Organization to widen access to its HIV prevention drug across Latin America and the Caribbean, as the regions seek to curb new infections.
Under the new agreement, countries that choose to offer lenacapavir, a twice-yearly drug marketed as Yeztugo in the United States for HIV prevention, will be able to procure it through PAHO’s regional purchasing system.
New HIV infections in Latin America and the Caribbean rose 13% between 2010 and 2024, Gilead said, citing gaps in the utilization of HIV prevention medicines.
The agreement creates a new pathway to access in 14 countries that are not covered by its voluntary licensing agreements for generic versions, the company said.
Under a 2024 deal, it granted six generic manufacturers royalty-free licenses to produce and supply the drug in resource-limited countries.
Eligible countries include Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela.
Yeztugo is a pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP medicine, and is central to Gilead’s growth strategy. The company has forecast $1 billion in sales for the long-acting drug in 2026.
PAHO Director Jarbas Barbosa said the initiative could help reduce access gaps to lenacapavir and give countries another option for HIV prevention.
Gilead is also in discussions with Brazil’s Health Ministry on possible local production of lenacapavir, the company said.
It said its access plan includes generic licensing, technology transfers and partnerships. Availability will depend on country-specific decisions and regulatory approvals.
(Reporting by Padmanabhan Ananthan in Bengaluru; Editing by Pooja Desai)
