Gilead To Donate PrEP Drug To 200,000 Patients Annually As Part Of Trump’s Crusade To End HIV Transmissions
The high cost of the drug has been cited as a barrier to bringing HIV transmissions down to zero. While many advocates cheered the news, others warn that the donation only covers about a fifth of what the country needs.
The Associated Press:
Drugmaker Will Donate Meds For US Push To End HIV Epidemic
The Health and Human Services Department says a major drugmaker has agreed to donate medications that reduce the risk of HIV transmission for up to 200,000 people a year in support of the government's plan to end the epidemic in the U.S. The pledge by California-based Gilead Sciences may last up to 11 years, said HHS Secretary Alex Azar. Gilead will donate its Truvada prevention pill until a second-generation version becomes available. (5/9)
The Washington Post:
Drugmaker To Donate HIV-Prevention Pills For As Many As 200,000 People
The donation is part of President Trump’s initiative to reduce HIV transmission in the United States by 90 percent by 2030. “The majority of Americans who are at risk and who could protect themselves with PrEP are still not receiving the medication,” Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said in a statement. “This agreement will help close that gap substantially.” (Bernstein, 5/9)
Stat:
A Generic Version Of A Gilead HIV Pill Coming Sooner Than Expected
In an unexpected development, Gilead Sciences (GILD) disclosed that a generic version of its Truvada pill for preventing HIV will be sold by Teva Pharmaceuticals (TEVA) starting in September 2020, roughly a year earlier than had been expected. Nonetheless, the news did little to assuage AIDS activists, who have been clamoring for a lower-cost version of the drug for the past few years, underscoring ongoing controversy over the cost of prescription medicines. Activists have complained that the price Gilead charges for its medicine has been a barrier to wider use and consequently thwarted efforts to eradicate the virus. (Silverman, 5/9)
