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News
Gilead Sciences and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) have agreed to expand access to lenacapavir — a twice-yearly HIV prevention drug — across 14 Latin American and Caribbean countries. The deal lets eligible nations procure the drug through PAHO's regional purchasing system. New HIV infections in the region rose 13% between 2010 and 2024, making the move a critical step toward closing prevention gaps.
Gilead Sciences and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) have inked a new agreement to broaden access to lenacapavir (marketed as Yeztugo in the U.S.), a twice-yearly HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) drug, across Latin America and the Caribbean. Under the deal, participating countries can procure the drug through PAHO's regional purchasing system — a significant new pathway for nations not already covered by Gilead's existing voluntary licensing agreements for generic versions.
The agreement covers 14 countries: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela. Gilead is also in separate talks with Brazil's Health Ministry about potential local production of the drug. The company's broader access strategy includes generic licensing, technology transfers, and partnerships, though availability will ultimately hinge on country-specific decisions and regulatory approvals.
By the Numbers:
Why it matters: With HIV infections trending upward in the region, this agreement could meaningfully close prevention gaps by making a highly effective, long-acting PrEP option more accessible to millions who currently lack it.
