In response to criticism, ViiV Healthcare has agreed to license its long-acting injectable HIV prevention shot to the Medicines Patent Pool so that generic companies can make and distribute less expensive versions to low- and middle-income countries. But the move met with mixed reactions, due to the timetable and current pricing for the medication.
The move comes two months after the company, which is largely controlled by GSK, announced it would not pursue any licensing deals and, instead, planned to remain the “sole supplier” for the Apretude shot on a global basis, at least during the initial launch years. The injectable medication was recently approved in the U.S.
That decision upset patient advocacy groups, because the medication is widely seen as a significant advancement in combating what continues to be a highly infectious disease. Approximately 1.5 million people were infected with HIV in 2020 and Africa is the most highly affected region, according to World Health Organization data.
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