A scientific study published yesterday (Wednesday 24) concludes that Gilead Sciences' antiretroviral lenacapavir has an overall efficacy of 100% in preventing HIV-1 infection, which is responsible for almost all HIV infections in the world.

The data was published in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) and presented at the 25th International AIDS Conference in Munich, Germany.

According to a VOAMore than 2,000 women have been monitored in Uganda and South Africa by experts who have concluded that the injectable drug applied only twice a year is very effective.

Meanwhile, on July 10, the United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS said in a statement that the drug could accelerate efforts to end the pandemic by 2030.

"Ensuring equitable global access to new technologies can help put the world on the path to ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030," said Winnie Byanyima, executive director of UNAIDS, quoted in the same publication.

Even so, Gilead has not yet announced its plans for low- and middle-income countries, but UNAIDS is concerned that the pharmaceutical company's latest statement regarding its access strategy for low- and middle-income countries only mentions "high-incidence countries and countries with limited resources" and makes no specific mention of upper-middle-income countries or the Medicines Patent Pool.

Upper-middle-income countries account for 41% of new HIV infections and 37% of all people living with the virus.

These countries are home to millions of people who can't afford the prices that Gilead charges high-income countries, which is around 40,000 dollars a year.

UNAIDS stressed that the pharmaceutical company must ensure that all people who need the drug have guaranteed access to it.

(Photo DR)