GSK’s ViiV to expand supply of HIV drug in Africa

Dive Brief:

• GSK-backed ViiV Healthcare on Monday said it plans to triple the amount of its HIV prevention therapy it will make available at a not-for-profit price in low- and middle-income countries next year and in 2026.
• The company, which is majority owned by GSK and counts Pfizer and Shionogi as stockholders, is committing to supply at least 2 million doses of its long-acting drug cabotegravir for pre-exposure prophylaxis.
• An injectable drug, long-acting cabotegravir got approved in the U.S. as Apretude after testing found it effective at preventing HIV. ViiV said its commitment will help accelerate access to HIV prevention in countries that have limited resources and a high disease burden.

Dive Insight:

Timed to an HIV conference being held in Peru, ViiV’s announcement is an example of how large drugmakers try to balance the higher prices they set in developed countries with access policies in other parts of the world.

Established by GSK and Pfizer in 2009, ViiV has developed a number of mainstay drugs for treating and preventing HIV, including Cabenuva, Dovato and Tivicay.

Apretude is one of its its newest and, as an injection given once every two months, provides a more durable prevention option. ViiV first rolled it out at a not-for-profit price in Zambia earlier this year, and has begun to do the same in Malawi, Zimbabwe, Eswatini and Ukraine. The company expects to have supplied the drug for roll-out in nine more countries by the end of this year.

ViiV has also supported fellowships, provided grants to local organizations and launched a coalition as part of its drug access efforts. In 2022, ViiV signed a licensing agreement with the Medicines Patent Pool to support development of generic versions of long-acting cabotegravir for PrEP.

Along with ViiV, Gilead has also been a central figure in HIV drug development and prevention efforts. Last week the company agreed to license its HIV drug lenacapavir to six generic drugmakers to produce and sell generics in lower and middle-income countries with high incidence of the disease. Lenacapavir is used for the treatment of HIV, but Gilead is seeking regulatory approvals for the drug as a preventive option, too.

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