100 signatures reached
To: Big Pharma & Gilead
Make HIV treatment accessible for all!
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According to the World Health Organization, tens of millions of people were living with HIV by the end of 2023. Recent reports have shown that one of the most successful drugs on the market for the treatment of HIV, which currently costs $42,250 a year, would still be profitable at just $40 a year. Researchers are saying Lenacapavir could be “the closest we have ever been to an HIV vaccine” and since it would only cost $40 a year for every person who needed it, this treatment has the potential to save countless lives if the price was slashed.
Lenacapavir, sold as Sunlenca by US pharmaceutical giant Gilead, could be up to a THOUSAND times less than its current price. No working or middle class person can afford a $40,000 treatment plan. This drug could be a breakthrough for HIV prevention worldwide if Gilead produced it quickly and as affordably as possible.
Given by injection every six months, Lenacapavir can prevent infection and suppress HIV in people who are already infected. There is currently no known cure for HIV, any attempts to stop the spread of infection and treat symptoms should be welcomed. This would be game changing for the millions of people who have HIV across the world. We've come a long way in the treatment of HIV since its discovery in 1981 and know the latest treatments help people live long, healthy lives—but only if people can actually afford this medication. We owe it, not only to those living with HIV now— but to the hundreds of thousands of people who were killed during the AIDS/HIV epidemic and have been killed by complications from this deadly disease to make treatment affordable to suppress and prevent the spread of HIV.
Gilead has the potential to treat and extend the lives of millions of people by putting people over profits and dropping the price of this drug to $40 a year.
Gilead has the potential to treat and extend the lives of millions of people by putting people over profits and dropping the price of this drug to $40 a year.
Why is this important?
Despite the fact that there has been significant progress in the healthcare field around HIV treatment, nearly 700,000 people still died from HIV complications just last year. Insurance companies and Big Pharma make their money off of the few people who can afford these expensive treatments and drugs, while those without insurance suffer. The pharmaceutical industry is a multibillion dollar business, and even cutting the price to $40 a year, they'd still make a 30% profit. Gilead has the opportunity to still make a 30% profit. There is medication to extend people's lives and suppress the worst symptoms of HIV, if we can make people's lives easier and better, why wouldn't we? Will you sign the petition to encourage Gilead make the HIV medication Lenacapavir as affordable as possible to all?
Image: Tom Williams, CQ-roll call, Getty Images
Image: Tom Williams, CQ-roll call, Getty Images