disaster
World: Game-changing HIV prevention drug must be available for $40 per year — everywhere
By Médecins Sans Frontières at ReliefWeb
· June 17, 2026
· 5 min read
. Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) launched a campaign today demanding that the US-based pharmaceutical corporation Gilead Sciences immediately make the highly effective HIV prevention medicine lenacapavir more widely available across the globe. Gilead, which controls the produ
Key takeaway Lenacapavir is a long-acting injectable form of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) administered just twice a year that is nearly 100 percent effective in preventing someone from acquiring HIV.
Why this matters
The limited availability of lenacapavir, a game-changing HIV prevention medicine, has significant implications for global health, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. With about 1.2 million people worldwide acquiring HIV in 2025, and a quarter of new infections occurring in countries excluded from existing licensing arrangements, the need for widespread access to this medicine is urgent. The fact that Gilead Sciences, the pharmaceutical corporation controlling production and distribution, has restricted supply to these countries and refused to sell directly to Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières, exacerbates the issue. MSF's campaign demanding that Gilead make lenacapavir available for $40 per year everywhere highlights the critical role that affordable access to medicines plays in preventing the spread of HIV. As the global community works to address the ongoing HIV/AIDS epidemic, ensuring that life-saving medicines like lenacapavir are accessible to those who need them most is crucial to preventing further devastation and saving lives.
About this story
Original reporting by ReliefWeb . Christgiving surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit ReliefWeb . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: disaster ·
Published: June 17, 2026 ·
Source: ReliefWeb ·
Reading time: 5 min
Get more Christgiving stories like this
Free weekly briefing covering disaster and other local news. Curated by our editorial team. No spam.
By subscribing you agree to our privacy policy . Unsubscribe anytime.
Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? . Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) launched a campaign today demanding that the US-based pharmaceutical corporation Gilead Sciences immediately make the highly effective HIV prevention medicine lenacapavir more widely available across the globe. Gilead, which controls the produ
When was this published? This article was first published on June 17, 2026 by ReliefWeb and curated for Christgiving readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Médecins Sans Frontières at ReliefWeb. To learn more about how Christgiving selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more disaster coverage from Christgiving, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .