December 1st was World AIDS Day... There were related articles.
Really... Homo sapiens are making and undoing.... ^^
"We will find the answer. As always.." This line comes to mind.
Now all that's left is a cold, dementia, cancer~
UNAIDS Welcomes Vaccine Development on World AIDS Day
100% Prevention Success in Women's Trials... Effect Almost Similar for Men
Sale of Generic Drugs Allowed in 120 Countries in Africa, Southeast Asia and the Caribbean
Concerns Raised That 'Opportunity to Eradicate AIDS Missed' as AIDS Surge Excluded South America
[Cape Town (South Africa)=AP/Newsis] A pharmacist holds a vial of the new HIV vaccine Lenacapavir at the Desmond Tutu Health Foundation's Masipumelele Research Center in Cape Town, South Africa on July 23. The world is finally closest to developing an HIV vaccine. December 1, 2024.
[Seoul=Newsis] Reporter Yusejin = The world is finally closest to developing an HIV vaccine.
Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director of UNAIDS, welcomed the new Lenacapavir vaccine developed by US pharmaceutical company Gilead on World AIDS Day (December 1st), but said the issue was whether the vaccine could be used in countries at risk.
Lenacapavir, which needs to be administered twice a year, showed 100% prevention of HIV infection in women in a study and had a similar effect for men, according to research results released on the 27th.
Gilead said it would allow the sale of generic drugs in 120 poor countries (mostly Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Caribbean) with high HIV infection rates. However, concerns have been raised that South America, where infection rates are much lower but rising, has been excluded, missing an important opportunity to stop AIDS.
UNAIDS estimated the number of deaths from AIDS last year at about 630,000 on December 1st. This is the lowest figure since peaking in 2004, suggesting that the world is currently at a "historic crossroads" and has an opportunity to end the epidemic, UNAIDS added.
Lenacapavir vaccine is already sold as an AIDS treatment called 'Sunlenca' in the US, Canada, Europe, etc. Gilead plans to apply for approval of Sunlenca for use in HIV prevention.
While there are other methods for preventing HIV infection, such as condoms, daily pills, vaginal rings, and injections every two months, experts say that Lenacapavir, which is administered twice a year, will be particularly useful for marginalized groups who fear treatment.
Gilead said it "continues to work tirelessly to ensure access to HIV prevention and treatment options where they are most needed".
The 120 countries where generic drug sales are allowed account for 70% of global HIV infections, including 18 African countries.
However, advocacy groups in 15 South American countries, including Peru, Argentina, Ecuador, Chile, Guatemala, and Colombia, sent a letter to Gilead on the 28th urging that access to Lenacapavir be more equitable and that generic versions of Sunlenca be made available in South American countries as well.
Currently, the annual cost of Sunlenca treatment is over $40,000 (55.86 million won) in Norway, France, Spain, and the US, but experts estimate that if generic drug production is expanded to 10 million doses, it could be produced for a treatment price of $40 (55,860 won).
Dr. Salim Abdul Karim, an AIDS expert at the University of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa, said: "The missing piece of the puzzle now is how to deliver Lenacapavir to everyone who needs it".
Reporter Yusejin (dbtpwls@newsis.com)
