Gilead Sciences has signed a new agreement with the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) to help expand access to twice-yearly lenacapavir for HIV prevention across Latin America and the Caribbean.
The agreement will use PAHO’s Regional Revolving Funds to create a coordinated pathway for countries to access lenacapavir as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). The approach is intended to support country-led efforts to adopt and implement long-acting HIV prevention.
Lenacapavir is a long-acting HIV medicine being developed for use as PrEP. The twice-yearly option is designed to reduce the need for frequent dosing, which could provide another prevention choice for people at risk of HIV.
The agreement covers 14 countries that are outside Gilead’s existing voluntary licensing agreements. These countries are Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela.
Gilead said the new agreement complements other access pathways, including voluntary licensing and generic production arrangements, as part of its broader global strategy for lenacapavir.
The company’s access efforts come as Latin America and the Caribbean continue to face challenges in HIV prevention. According to Gilead, new HIV infections in the region increased by 13% between 2010 and 2024, while gaps in PrEP use remain.
The agreement builds on clinical research including Gilead’s PURPOSE 2 trial, which evaluated the safety and efficacy of twice-yearly lenacapavir for HIV prevention.
Johanna Mercier, chief commercial and corporate affairs officer at Gilead Sciences, said the partnership with PAHO is intended to help countries move from scientific advances toward wider access to HIV prevention.
PAHO Director Dr. Jarbas Barbosa said the agreement could help reduce access gaps and expand the prevention options available to countries across the Americas.
Gilead also plans to explore additional work with PAHO to support country readiness and the wider implementation of long-acting HIV prevention. The company is also working with Brazil’s Ministry of Health on potential local production of lenacapavir.
The PAHO agreement is part of Gilead’s wider global access strategy for lenacapavir. The strategy includes voluntary licensing, technology transfer, no-profit supply, regional access agreements and partnerships designed to expand access to HIV prevention.
Gilead recently expanded commitments through the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and the Global Fund, increasing the planned reach of its no-profit supply programme from 2 million to up to 3 million people through 2028. Lenacapavir is currently available in 10 countries across sub-Saharan Africa, according to the company.
The latest agreement adds another regional pathway as governments and healthcare partners prepare for broader access to twice-yearly HIV prevention.