A preventive treatment for AIDS was presented a few days ago. “A major turning point in the fight against HIV,” says Yazdan Yazdanpanah, a professor specializing in infectious diseases, on France Inter.
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An antiretroviral from the American laboratory Gilead has proven its worth in preventing HIV. Now, “The fight begins for the accessibility of this treatment and its price”declared Yazdan Yazdanpanah, director of ANRS Emerging Infectious Diseases, on France Inter on Monday July 29. This battle must be led by “everyone, community members, doctors, decision-makers”.
The cost of lenacapavir “is expensive”says the professor specializing in infectious diseases, with $40,000 per person each year. According to an estimate unveiled by researchers at the 25th International AIDS Conference, it could fall to around $40 in the generic version.
“Today, this treatment is also used to treat people in very late treatment lines. That’s why the price is very expensive.”explains Yazdan Yazdanpanah. On its website, the High Authority of Health specifies that Sunlenca, the commercial name for lenacapavir, “is an option of last resort”when other treatments do not work.
Gilead has “started working with generic drug manufacturers to try to get this treatment to everyone”assures Yazdan Yazdanpanah. Its particularity is that it has a “very high efficiency”. Above all, it is administered through “two injections per year, one every six months”what “enables better treatment adherence than daily treatment”.
Can we talk about a vaccine against HIV? “It’s a debate we have among ourselves [les chercheurs]“he replies. “It’s almost a vaccine, but it’s not a vaccine. With a vaccine, you give one injection, and then you don’t do anything. For the flu, it’s once a year.”he replies. With lenacapavir, “We still need to monitor the people who received it, to see if it is well tolerated, if there is no infection”he explains. As a result, “it’s a little different”.