This value was primarily based on manufacturing volumes equal to treating 10 million folks.
If the drug was given to folks at excessive threat of contracting HIV – equivalent to homosexual or bisexual males, intercourse employees, prisoners or notably younger ladies in Africa – it might “principally shut down HIV transmission,” Hill emphasised.
“We might really control the epidemic.”
There have been 1.3 million new HIV infections final 12 months, whereas 39 million persons are residing with the virus, in keeping with the World Well being Group.
“OPPORTUNITY TO SAVE THE WORLD”
To estimate the price, the researchers studied shipments of uncooked supplies of the drug, and spoke to giant generic producers in China and India that already make its “constructing blocks,” Hill mentioned.
The worldwide group of researchers has been confirmed proper about comparable estimates prior to now, he added.
A decade in the past, the group mentioned that the price of making Gilead’s hepatitis C drug – then priced at US$84,000 a affected person – might plummet to US$100 if generics have been allowed.
“Now it prices slightly below US$40 to remedy Hepatitis C,” Hill mentioned.
The brand new analysis was introduced a day after UNAIDS chief Winnie Byanyima referred to as on Gilead to “make historical past” by opening up Lenacapavir to the UN-backed Medicines Patent Pool, which might enable generics to be bought underneath licence in low- and middle-income nations.
“Gilead has a possibility to save lots of the world,” she advised AFP.