Gilead Sciences is collaborating with the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (Global Fund) to provide lenacapavir for the prevention of HIV as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP).1 Lenacapavir is Gilead's proprietary twice-yearly injectable HIV-1 capsid inhibitor that is intended to treat multi-drug resistant HIV in adults, in conjunction with other antiretrovirals.
Gilead focuses on rapid, equitable access to lenacapavir
Per the partnership, Gilead plans to supply enough doses to assist up to two million individuals over three years in nations supported by the Global Fund. Gilead will not be profiting off of these doses.
This Gilead-Global Fund strategic partnership dates back to October 2024, when Gilead entered into non-exclusive, royalty-free voluntary licensing agreements to produce and distribute high-quality generic versions of lenacapavir across 120 high-burden, resource-limited countries, mainly classified as low- and lower-middle-income nations (LLMICs).2
“Given the transformative potential of lenacapavir for prevention, our focus is on making it available as quickly and broadly as possible where the need is greatest,” said Daniel O’Day, Gilead’s chairman and CEO, last year. “Gilead teams have been working with urgency to bring on high-volume generic manufacturers now, so that we can ensure a rapid transition to these voluntary license partners after lenacapavir for PrEP is approved.”
Key Takeaways
- Gilead and the Global Fund will supply lenacapavir to 120 low- and lower-middle-income countries, aiming to reach up to two million people with this long-acting HIV prevention drug over the next three years at no profit.
- The partnership includes voluntary licensing agreements with six generic manufacturers, enabling scalable production and faster access to the twice-yearly injectable treatment in high-burden regions.
- Gilead is also advancing its broader ESG commitments, including sustainability initiatives to reduce waste and embed climate-conscious practices across its global operations.
A milestone moment in the global fight against HIV/AIDS
Six generic companies are producing and supplying lenacapavir to the 120 countries, including Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories Limited, Emcure, Eva Pharma, Ferozsons Laboratories Limited, Hetero, and Mylan, a subsidiary of Viatris. The selected partners are equipped to manufacture sterile injectable medicines.
The Global Fund plans to prioritize early-access countries by evaluating HIV prevalence, alignment with national prevention plans, and the availability of local resources.
“The agreement between Gilead Sciences and the Global Fund is based on our shared intention to benefit as many people as possible, as quickly as possible with this breakthrough in HIV prevention,” O’Day added. “We are providing the medicine at no profit to Gilead, and in enough supply to reach up to two million people in low- and lower-middle-income countries ahead of generic lenacapavir becoming available. This is all part of our unprecedented approach to access for a medicine that could help end the HIV epidemic.”
Emphasizing both the scientific and societal significance of expanding access to long-acting HIV prevention, Global Fund Executive Director Peter Sands shared that “this is not just a scientific breakthrough—it’s a game-changer for HIV/AIDS. For the first time, we have a tool that can fundamentally change the trajectory of the HIV epidemic, but only if we get it to the people who need it most. Our ambition is to reach two million people with long-acting PrEP, but we can only do that if the world steps up with the resources required. This is a pivotal moment, not just for the fight against HIV, but for the fundamental principle that lifesaving innovations must reach those who need them most—whoever they are, and wherever they live.”
Gilead aligns global health efforts with sustainability goals
In other news, Gilead is one of many companies in the pharma sector who has made sustainability pledges3 in hopes of fighting climate change, including a reduction in total waste generation by 20% by 2030.
At LogiPharma Europe this past April,4 Joydeep Ganguly, the company’s SVP of corporate operations and former interim CIO, sat down with Pharma Commerce to discuss how sustainability has evolved from a compliance requirement to a key business strategy, driving operational efficiencies, innovation, and long-term growth.
“First, it's important to share practical proof points. In the early stages, we saw a lot of pledges, but now it’s time to translate those pledges into action and outcomes,” he explained. “I describe this as the shift from “pledge to promise.” Demonstrating how sustainability efforts lead to positive business results is critical.
“Second, be patient. We often expect immediate results, like flipping a light switch. But sustainability is a long-term objective, and it requires perspective and perseverance. Third, embed sustainability into everyday business processes. Rather than treating it as a one-off transformation project, integrate it into your operating model. Success is more likely when it becomes part of your standard way of working.”
References
1. Gilead Finalizes Agreement With the Global Fund to Accelerate Access to Twice-Yearly Lenacapavir for HIV Prevention for up to Two Million People in Primarily Low- and Lower-Middle-Income Countries. Gilead Sciences. July 9, 2025. Accessed July 10, 2025. https://www.gilead.com/news/news-details/2025/gilead-finalizes-agreement-with-the-global-fund-to-accelerate-access-to-twice-yearly-lenacapavir-for-hiv-prevention-for-up-to-two-million-people-in-primarily-low--and-lower-middle-income-countries
2. Saraceno N. Gilead Signs Licensing Deals with Generic Manufacturers for Lenacapavir Production. Pharmacuetical Commerce. October 4, 2024. Accessed July 10, 2025. https://www.pharmaceuticalcommerce.com/view/gilead-licensing-deals-generic-manufacturers-lenacapavir
3. Gilead Sustainability Information. Gilead Sciences. July 10, 2025. https://www.gilead.com/responsibility/sustainability
4. Saraceno N. LogiPharma Europe 2025: Three Ways to Turn Sustainability Pledges Into Progress. Pharmacuetical Commerce. April 23, 2025. Accessed July 10, 2025. https://www.pharmaceuticalcommerce.com/view/logipharma-europe-2025-three-ways-turn-sustainability-pledges-progress
