Supposed To Be a Good Thing, But....

 

There have been a lot of articles like this piece that detail how Gilead's lenacapavir  will be sold for as little as $40 a year in up to 120 low income countries around the world.  Awesome for them.  But it sucks for the destitute people barely scraping by in other parts of the world, including the US.  

When this med was 1st mentioned, it's going price was $40 - 50K.  Brand name Sunlenca came along & dropped it to $39K.  Now we have Yeztugo going for just under S30K.  Some countries like South Africa negotiated with for a $60 per year price tag.  Now this generic version is going for $40K, but can't be sold in the US.

They won't allow the generic in the US & the version available costs over 700 times what will be available elsewhere.  Yes, the US has money, but a lot of its people don't.  This is why people get upset about helping others before they help their own.

While a lot of the world get's charitable grace, we're left holding the bag & paying the bill.  That's my rant for this morning.  Take care.

Cya...

PURPOSE 365...

 

PURPOSE 365 is a part of a PrEP study by Gilead.  Currently, lenacapavir under the name Yetzugo is being marketed as a twice yearly PrEP injection.   This article talks about the PURPOSE 365 study, currently in phase 3,  to increase the efficacy & potency of the injection to last a full year.

This is notable.  Even with the limits currently facing lenacapvir distribution, this could alter the fight against HIV even more.   Still, even if this works, if it can't reach the people who need it, it might as well not exist.  It's in Gilead & world leaders' best interest to make this happen ASAP.

Look at these pieces, they could be the future.  Take care.

Cya...

A Few Things...

 

The FDA has a approved a new 1 pill daily regimen from Gilead.   This piece also covers the matter.   The med is for suppressed patients who seek a simplified treatment.  

– Novel Daily Oral Tablet Combines Bictegravir, a Guideline-Recommended INSTI with a High Barrier to Resistance, with Lenacapavir, a First-in-Class Capsid Inhibitor with No Cross-Resistance to Other Existing Antiretrovirals –

– Bixlenvo Now the Smallest STR; First and Only STR for Most People on Complex HIV Treatment Regimens –

It'll run about $4,500 monthly.  It will provide another option for those on more complicated regimens.  They  the price is about average, but wow.

This is the last Friday of August 2026.  There's only 3 full days left in my 59th year.  Here's hoping it ends well & 60 doesn't start of with some level of suckage.

Finally, I saw a 3rd hummer this morning.  It was larger & slightly darker.  Unfortunately, the bushes in our yard look like it's late October, so it flit around & then promptly leave.  It was probably hungry & these shrubs had little to offer.  I haven't seen people posting any of the normal hummer pics like I used to.  I guess everybody is having this issue.  It's just too hot & dry.

That's all for now, take care.

Cya...

Bill Day & A Bit More...

 

Yesterday was an odd day.   My roomie wasn't feeling well.  It wasn't the coolest day, but it wasn't too hot.  The cool moment is about to evaporate.

Today is bill day.  It also means a trip to the bank & shopping.  There might be some other errands.

This piece is more on the weekly oral med being developed by Gilead & Merck.  If the price is decent it could lead away from daily pills.  It might be he 1st, but if it pans out, it won't be the last.  Weekly could replace daily, just like daily replaced hourly.  

That's it for now, take care.

Cya...

Research & Heat...

 

There wasn't much for articles, but I found these, A & B.  The prior piece details Gilead's currently ongoing research over prevention & cures.  Both pieces discuss research from Gilead & Merck concerning a weekly pill for HIV treatment.  Neither are long, but contain updates on the process.

Yesterday was hot again.  I didn't fair well.  It's not supposed to be as hot today.  The days are hard, but it's the hot nights that are doing me in.  

That's all for now, take care.

Cya...

About The Jab...

 

HIV/AIDS education is important.  Some people have the notion Gilead's Lenacapavir, the long lasting PReP option is a cure or a vaccine.  It's neither.  This medication can't cure an HIV+ person.  It can only prevent transmission of the virus.  What this drug could do if properly & widely administered is slowly starve out HIV in a type of siege war.  It would die with those currently infected with no other transmissions.

There's a lot of info regarding HIV, even more misinformation.  We have access to an abundance of resources to learn from.  That may not be the same everywhere in the world.  Education, awareness & prevention will always be as important as treatment.

That's all for now, take care.

Cya...

FDA, Gilead, Yeztugo Again...

 

This article notes the FDA is allowing Gilead to proceed with an investigation into prescribing Yeztugo as a weekly, oral PrEP med.  It's already approved as a bridge between normal PrEP medications & the long acting, injection of Yeztugo or lenacapavir. 

If successful, it will be another option for prevention.  Some people may want or not tolerate the long acting injections for PrEP.  For them, oral meds may remain the better option.  Still, weekly means 52 doses not 365.   That's over 300 less pills & chances to miss the dose.

This was a good article, give it a read.  Take care.

Cya...

Goodbye March...

 

It's the end of March.  This was a tiring month & there's still things left to do.  I haven't been feeling well & this morning's been rough.  I'm trying not to get really sick.  Mornings have been hard.

I saw a couple of articles like this piece.  Gilead is refusing to sell MSF (Doctors WIthout Borders) their long lasting prevention medication lenacapavir.  No reason has been given.  This is not a good look for the drug company.

The other article I saw was about being 50+ & living with HIV.  These articles have yet to impress me.  They usually detail the same issues anyone over 50 would face, then add HIV.   None I've read so far have been that informative.

That's all for now, Goodbye March.

Cya...

Resistant...

 

HIV can develop resistance to any med.  This can be deterred by maintaining a regimen, giving the virus little chance of microevolution.  This is important & the link provided above gives more info on resistance.  Much can be found on Google as well.  

Gilead has posted about resistance to lenacapavir.  No medication is immune to resistance.  This piece details more on that.  This is an arms race between meds & HIV.  Resistance to lenacapavir is rare & might be treated with the addition of another med to the dose to further disable the virus' ability to resist. 

This is why medical research & new meds will always be needed.  Even if HIV is someday cured, other viruses will remain.  Medication & it's knowledge base must constantly evolve to keep up with current health issues.

Give these pieces a read & maintain your regimen.  Take care.

Cya...

Weekly Pill...

 

Lots of links coming here.  This article & this prior piece, discuss a 2 drug combination medication from Merck & Gilead.  Their drugs, Islatravir & Lencapavir have been combined into a single, weekly dose, oral medication.  These studies show some of the progress & efficacy of the research.  With both meds already having governmental approval, this should be just to prove the viability of the approach.  This could be an option for HIV+ people in the near future.  Personally, I'd opt for the weekly pill over the weekly injection.  

This morning has been rough.  I woke to 70° & it felt hot.  Add to that, wind & allergies are an issue.  My body wasn't ready for this & soon it'll be back to seasonal temps.  

We're trying to get our holiday plans in order.  It'd be nice if the worked.  Things seldom go as planned for us.  But we try.

That's all for now, take care.

Cya...

Same Chilly Same...

 

It's still cold & article land is lacking.  It's supposed to be warmer tomorrow & stay fairly warm for the week.  Most articles were still dealing with funding cuts & rising transmission rates in some areas.  There were some on Gilead's new 2-drug combo.  It's a single dose pill with lenacapavir that's in the 3rd stage of research.  If it gets approval, this would add to available regimens for people living with HIV.  It would further the use of lenacapavir, which should lower the price.  Soon, most people will have single dose or long acting options.  That's a far cry from where these regimens started.

That's about it for now, take care.

Cya...

CDC Rec...

 

I've never been a big advocate or PrEP over other means of HIV prevention.  However, if taken properly, the regimen is effective.  Adherence is a big "If" here.   Regimen maintenance is not high on a lot of people's list & it can lead to issues in prevention.

It shouldn't be surprising, the CDC is recommending the long acting injectable lencapavir, Yeztugo.  Gilead's med could be a part of a real game changer in prevention strategy.   This article is a clinical abstract on the matter. 

It's a new stance by the agency.  Give the piece a read.  That's all for now.

Cya...

More Long Options

Viiv is promoting findings for their long acting PrEP & HIV meds.  They promote data that supports the efficacy of & preference for their long acting meds; Apretude, Vocabria & Cabenuva.  These injections aren't as long acting as Gilead's Lenacapavir.  There may be other reasons to prefer Viiv's options.

The company has also pledged to let some low income countries manufacture & market generic versions of these meds.  Making these drugs far more affordable.  This & Gilead's similar pledge were most likely due to public pressure & the US ceasing funding to HIV programs.

That's all for now, take care.

Cya...

Costs...

 

Regulators have been trying to get pharmaceutical companies to reign in prices for years.   This crap with the orange stain & his funding cuts has made it even more imperative.  This piece is about Gilead's Lenacapavir.    

This med is currently to be marketed for between upper 30K & lower 40K annually.  Research found the med could be made for as little as $40 annually if 2 million doses were sold yearly.  If the more of the drug was produced the price would fall.

It could, be made for only $25 (£18.40) a year – including a 30% profit margin – analysis from the University of Liverpool and others suggests.

At the original price, even affluent nations couldn't afford the medicine.  Estimates have 1M+ people in the US using PrEP.  The numbers are there.  Then include the nearly 40M living with HIV & this drug, or meds like it, could be made very affordable.

Unfortunately as long as conservatives, religious bigots & greedy people exists, HIV & other illnesses will never be cured or eradicated.  They're just too profitable.  Corporate avarice & political corruption are the illnesses we all suffer from.

That's all for now.  

Take care.

Cya...

Further Developments...

 

This piece is over Gilead pushing their injectable lencapavir from a twice a year subcutaneous injection to an annual intramuscular application.  According to research, the results show a better concentration of the medicine than the current approach.  The yearly shot had a higher dosage & injection site pain was common.  

For those not interested or can't get the injections, Merck has developed another daily med with only 2 drugs.  I don't know much on it so far, but I found this article.  

We have an unexpected errand today.  I hope things go well.  I tried to do better yesterday.  I didn't & spent most of the day on edge.  Everything keeps piling on & I can't keep up or handle it.   I'm not sure how things will go, but I am trying.   It just doesn't seem to be enough.

That's all for now.

Cya...

Better Research...

 

Medical research has historically had an issue with studying broad enough populations.  In the beginning, it was often either White men or people in situations where they were unaware or without freedom to choose.  HIV research may not have been done by force or duplicity, but it has been historically just as limited.  

Early on, most the studies were only on White males.  Then slowly they began adding people of color.   Then they added trans-women.  But seldom were woman or girls included in the research.  If they were, it was generally much later in development.

This article is about Gilead's attempt to design inclusive studies.   In sub-Saharan Africa, woman are more greatly impacted by HIV.  Any research there should focus foremost on them.  The piece goes into more detail about how they have used this during their research for their long acting injectable.  

Give this a read.  Hope everyone is doing well.  We're trying to do as well as we can.  

Take care.

Cya...

Other Options...

 

If a injection to handle your HIV is a bit much for you, there may be other options soon.  Although, Gilead's lenacapavir injection is sounding promising as a biannual option, it's still a shot.  Not only is it an injection & very new, it's very expensive.  

For those who don't handle injections well or whose insurance won't cover the bill, there might be another choice besides a daily regimen on the horizon.  For many, a daily regimen has proven easier to handle than the multi-pill cocktail approach of the past.  If that boosted adherence, then a weekly should do even better.

This piece details how Merck has recently developed Islatravir & has combined it with lenacapavir.  Together they are being administered  as weekly, oral option for handling HIV.  The research looks promising.  I have a feeling, most insurances are going to cover this before they consider the expense of Gilead's biannual lenacapavir injection.  

There are new things coming to treat this virus.  That's always good news.  Give the article a read.  Take care.

Cya...

Great, If You Get It...

 

There've been a lot of articles this morning discussing how Gilead is allowing for generics of it's new twice yearly HIV med & PrEP med, Lenacapavir.  This will only happen in about 120 poorer countries, leaving the rest of the world to foot the bill.   

This isn't the 1st time this has happened.  A few years back they did this to other meds.   Dropping the drugs price significantly for African countries.  What would pay for a few days of the medication in the US, would be year's worth there.   

Gilead will be asking about $42K+ for the 2 dose med in places like the US.  It has been stated in other articles this med could be made for as low $40 annually.   So, these parts of the world will get a med that most people in the US & similar countries won't be able to get for some time due to  broken healthcare systems.  

Don't get me wrong, I'm happy for these people.  It just seems I'm never in the right market to get these prices.  I know these places are in horrible condition.  Still, I think some people need to look at the level of poverty & horror shows going on in their own backyards before they go touting foreign charity efforts.

Take care.

Cya...

Cure Rush & Cash Stall...

 

Money has always been an issue in the fight against HIV/AIDS.  Whether the funds were needed for awareness, testing, treatment, outreach... there was never enough.   

Recently there's been a splash in the world about Gilead's drug Lenacapavir.  Which in trials prevented all occurrences of HIV in the test subjects for over a year with just 2 injections per patient.  The results are amazing.   You can Google for that.

Here's the rub.  This article details how world health organizations see this is the closest thing there will ever been to a vaccine & want it given to everyone at as low a price as possible.  Gilead says the med is for treatment only & not prevention.  

The cost is prohibitive at $42K+ annually.  The world organizations are pushing for a generic.  A study mentioned in the article, states the medication could be produced for as low as $40.00 using the ingredients of Lenacapavir.  That would still leave a profit margin of 30%.  If $40 using generic ingredients leaves that kind of profit, how many thousands of times profit is Gilead clearing off of $42+K?

This is an interesting article with an old argument of prevention vs profit.  We'll have to wait to see how this plays out.  Countries could pass laws overriding Gilead's claims & produce the medication generically.  That may be the only way this ever happens.

Take care. 

Cya...

Can Sue...

 

Drugmaker Can Be Sued for Delaying Release of Better Med, Court Rules

The above is a ruling from a California justice cited in this article.  The ruling affects Gilead's decision to keep marketing TDF (Tenofovir)  While pushing back the the development of TAF to insure the prior's financial success.  The case states Gilead knew of adverse affects the original could have such as bone & kidney damage.  The company continued to market TDF, even though they had knowledge of a safer version, TAF, which they shelved for years.  All of this was done to insure profitability.

The plaintiffs are suing for compensation.  They are not suing to claim the original drug was defective.  Only that it was sold when a knowingly safer version was available.  They believe it was the company's responsibility to promote the safest version.   The suit is over negligence & fraudulent concealment. 

The court announced this can move forward unless Gilead can prove it withheld the newer med for some other viable reason besides profit.  Gilead intends to take this to the state's Supreme Court.  Of course the company is crying fowl.

This is an important development.  Give it a read.  This won't be the last of this & could happen to other companies.  Take care.

Cya...