Two leading Indian pharmaceutical companies, Dr Reddy’s and Hetero, have secured licences to manufacture affordable versions of Gilead’s HIV prevention drug, Lenacapavir. The injection, taken twice a year, will be sold for just $40 annually in over 120 low- and middle-income countries starting 2027 a dramatic cut from the $28,000 yearly cost in the U.S.

The agreement, supported by Unitaid, the Gates Foundation and other partners, is expected to transform HIV prevention, especially in Africa where infection rates remain high.

Health experts say wider access to the long-acting drug could be a breakthrough step in efforts to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.