Dr. Lucky Tran Jul 23, 2024

A new drug described as “the closest we have ever been to an HIV vaccine” could be sold for $40 a year and still make 30% profit, but is currently being sold by pharma companies for $42,250. Absolutely criminal.

https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/article/2024/jul/23/hiv-aids-prevention-vaccine-lenacapavir-sunlenca-pharmaceuticals-gilead-generic-licensing

HIV drug could be made for just $40 a year for every patient

Generic version of a drug already on the market, which can suppress and prevent HIV, would still yield 30% profit if the current price was slashed, researchers say

The Guardian
Show threadJack SparrowJul 23, 2024
@luckytran ‘based on the costs of lenacapavir’s ingredients and manufacturing, ’-- the cost in research and development is not taken into consideration. Unless the public funds R&D for new drug development, you cannot ask pharmaceutical companies to consider their cost to be just ingredients and manufacturing.
Show threadMichael Busch

@jacksparrow @luckytran

There are many millions of people who would benefit from more effective HIV prophylaxis.

Gilead wants to sell lenacapavir at $42,000 per year.

It did not spend anything close to the order of magnitude of $100 billion to develop the drug - estimates are of order $1 billion.

Stop trying to defend or excuse a company trying to price-gouge a drug by a factor of hundreds.

Jul 24, 2024 at 4:39pmWeb