Hetero-Gilead Partnership to Broaden Access to Innovative HIV Drug

Pharmaceutical firm Hetero has partnered with Gilead Sciences Ireland UC to manufacture and distribute the HIV treatment drug lenacapavir in 120 primarily low- and lower-middle-income countries. The collaboration aims to broaden access, particularly for heavily treatment-experienced patients with multi-drug-resistant HIV, and support efforts to prevent HIV through pre-exposure prophylaxis.

Pharmaceutical firm Hetero announced a new partnership with Gilead Sciences Ireland UC to manufacture and distribute the HIV treatment drug lenacapavir across 120 primarily low- and lower-middle-income countries.

The agreement is non-exclusive, royalty-free, and voluntary, aimed at broadening access to the innovative HIV treatment used in conjunction with other antiretrovirals. It also supports efforts to prevent HIV through pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP).

Vamsi Krishna Bandi, Managing Director of Hetero Group of Companies, noted that the partnership strengthens their resolve to advance HIV prevention and treatment. Lenacapavir works with other anti-retroviral drugs to treat multi-drug-resistant HIV-1 infections and is effective for patients with limited treatment options due to its ability to target multiple stages of the HIV lifecycle. Recent clinical trials showed a 96% reduction in HIV infections, and the drug is also being studied as a long-acting prevention method.

(With inputs from agencies.)