On June 18, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Gilead’s twice-yearly antiviral injection for preventing HIV, CNBC reported.
However, the launch of the drug—to be marketed under the name Yeztugo—faces potential hurdles, including the Trump administration’s proposed cuts to federal funding for HIV-prevention efforts.
In two clinical trials that took place last year, Gilead’s injection virtually eliminated new HIV infections when taken every six months. The results prove the value of Yeztugo in addressing an epidemic that was responsible for 1.3 million new infections and contributed to the deaths of 630,000 people globally in 2023, according to the World Health Organization. The U.S. alone has 700 new cases and 100 HIV-related deaths each week.
However, the administration is not the only obstacle. Lenacapavir, the generic name of Yeztugo, is $28,218 in the U.S. before insurance, Gilead revealed. However, that’s in line with existing medications approved for the same use—pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP, which reduces the risk of getting HIV. Lenacapavir is already approved for treating HIV under the brand name Sunlenca—which costs more than $42,200 per year.