<\/p>\n
Aspen Pharmacare has secured the rights to develop, manufacture and commercialise an experimental once-monthly HIV prevention pill for 129 low- and middle-income countries, including every African nation.<\/p>\n
The South African drugmaker is one of three sub-Saharan African manufacturers licensed by Merck & Co, alongside companies in Kenya and Uganda.<\/p>\n
Their inclusion from the outset marks a first for Merck\u2019s voluntary-licensing programme for an HIV prevention medicine, bringing production closer to the regions expected to use the drug while supporting Africa\u2019s push to expand pharmaceutical manufacturing. This is according to a Friday statement\u00a0from the company, known as MSD outside the US and Canada.<\/p>\n
Read:<\/p>\n
Injectable HIV prevention drug shows promise
\nGilead\u2019s twice-a-year HIV prevention shot wins FDA approval<\/p>\n
Alimatravir is being developed as a once-monthly oral pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP, offering an alternative to daily pills.<\/p>\n
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If ongoing late-stage clinical trials are successful and the drug wins regulatory approval, it would become the world\u2019s first monthly oral HIV prevention medicine, a simpler regimen that could improve uptake and adherence, especially among young women and other people at high risk of infection.<\/p>\n
The announcement comes as South Africa expands its HIV-prevention arsenal, after the introduction of the twice-yearly injectable lenacapavir.<\/p>\n
Together the products represent a broader shift toward long-acting prevention options designed to make staying HIV-free easier.<\/p>\n
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South Africa remains at the epicentre of the global HIV epidemic, recording one of the world\u2019s largest numbers of new infections each year despite decades of progress in treatment.<\/p>\n
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Expanding prevention options is widely seen as critical to reducing transmission.<\/p>\n
Aspen said local production would strengthen healthcare security across the continent and reduce dependence on imported medicines when new prevention technologies become available.<\/p>\n
Aspen\u2019s shares have gained about 25% this year as investors bet on new manufacturing opportunities, including plans to produce\u00a0generic versions\u00a0of blockbuster diabetes and weight-loss medicines.<\/p>\n
\u00a9\u00a02026\u00a0Bloomberg<\/p>\n
#Aspen #joins #Africa #push #MSDs #onceamonth #HIV #prevention #pill<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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