Jamaine Punzalan

Health workers take blood samples of people who want to undertake voluntary  HIV and AIDS testing inside the University of the Philippines Manila on November 29, 2019 during the Alpha Phi Omega fraternity’s Oblation Run. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File

Article (news)

Agence France-Presse

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/175029377999920191129-oblation-run-up-manila-JC-8576.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Health workers take blood samples of people who want to undertake voluntary  HIV and AIDS testing inside the University of the Philippines Manila on November 29, 2019 during the Alpha Phi Omega fraternity’s Oblation Run. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File</span></span></span></div><p>The US Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday approved Gilead Sciences&#x27; twice-yearly injection to prevent HIV, a move the company hailed as a major breakthrough in the fight against the sexually transmitted virus.</p><p>Drugs to prevent HIV transmission, known as pre-exposure prophylaxis or PrEP, have existed for more than a decade. But because they typically require taking a daily pill, they have struggled to make a significant dent in global infections.</p><p>&quot;This is a historic day in the decades-long fight against HIV,&quot; said Daniel O&#x27;Day, Gilead&#x27;s chairman and chief executive officer, in a statement.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/health-science/2025/6/3/doh-recommends-declaring-hiv-as-national-public-health-emergency-1353">DOH recommends declaring HIV as national public health emergency</a></div><p>Lenacapavir, marketed under the brand name Yeztugo, has been shown in clinical trials to reduce the risk of HIV transmission by more than 99.9 percent in adults and adolescents -- making it functionally akin to a powerful vaccine.</p><p>But optimism may be tempered by the drug&#x27;s expected eye-watering price tag.</p><p>While the company has not disclosed specifics, analysts estimate the US launch price could be as high as $25,000 per year.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/health-science/2025/6/6/hiv-best-practices-and-how-the-ph-is-playing-catch-up-1326">HIV best practices and how the PH is playing catch-up</a></div><p>Activists are calling for the price to be slashed to $25 per person annually to help end the HIV pandemic.</p><p>The approval also comes as President Donald Trump&#x27;s administration has slashed funding for HIV treatment and prevention programs both overseas and within the United States.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/health-science/2025/6/4/why-hiv-testing-is-encouraged-among-those-engaged-in-risky-behavior-2323">Why HIV testing is encouraged among those engaged in risky behavior</a></div>

<p>The US Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday approved Gilead Sciences' twice-yearly injection to prevent HIV, a move the company hailed as a major breakthrough in the fight against the sexually transmitted virus.</p>

The US Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday approved Gilead Sciences' twice-yearly injection to prevent HIV, a move the company hailed as a major breakthrough in the fight against the sexually transmitted virus.

US approves Gilead's twice-yearly injection to prevent HIV

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US approves Gilead's twice-yearly injection to prevent HIV

Agence France-Presse

Published Jun 19, 2025 08:44 AM PHT

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