Dapivirine Vaginal Ring Volume

DVR supply available to low- and middle-income countries as of October 2024. For product approvals, volumes, implementation, and price comparisons of long-acting PrEP, visit our dashboard on PrEPWatch.org.

Cabotegravir Regulatory Approval

Regulatory approvals and those pending for cabotegravir as of October 2024. For product approvals, volumes, implementation, and price comparisons of long-acting PrEP, visit our dashboard on PrEPWatch.org.

Dapivirine Vaginal Ring Regulatory Approval

Regulatory approvals, pending decisions, and appeals as of October 2024. For product approvals, volumes, implementation, and price comparisons of long-acting PrEP, visit our dashboard on PrEPWatch.org.

Years Ahead in HIV Prevention Research: Time to Market

This timeline shows the potential time points when the next-generation of HIV prevention options might find their way into new programs.

People’s Research Agenda: New dimensions to the “3D” pathway

Launched at HIVR4P in Lima, Peru in October 2024, the People’s Research Agenda (PRA) is a collaboratively developed framework for aligning the needs and priorities of affected communities with the agenda for HIV prevention research. 130 advocates from more than 20 countries contributed to the framework, which offers guidance on both research conduct and what products to develop. Read more in PxWire.

LEN Generics — Can we go faster?

The timeline for generic LEN for PrEP to come to market is expected to be significantly shorter than for CAB for PrEP. Bioequivalence (BE) testing for LEN, which demonstrates a generic product works in the body in the same way as the originator product, is likely to be six months, vs. the 18 months for CAB for PrEP, because of differences in the drug formulation. The rapid granting of voluntary licensing by Gilead also contributes to this shorter timeline. Read more in PxWire.

PrEP Initiations in Latin America, 2019-2024

Latin American countries account for 306,000 cumulative PrEP initiations in the Global PrEP Tracker as of Q2 2024, which represent 4% of the global total. Since 2019, PrEP initiations across the region continue to increase at a steady rate, with Brazil reaching about 194,000 cumulative PrEP initiations (63% of regional total) since the inception of its National PrEP Program. Read more in PxWire.

PrEP Approval Status in Latin America, 2024

Since 2019, rates of HIV acquisition in Latin America have been trending upward, from 110,000 annually in 2019 to approximately 120,000 in 2023. At the same time, Latin America has taken strides to combat this trend, from increasing PrEP initiation rates to preparing for longer acting PrEP products, such as injectable cabotegravir (CAB) and lenacapavir (LEN). Learn more in PxWire.

PxWire Volume 14, Issue No. 4

PxWire is AVAC’s quarterly update covering the latest in the field of biomedical HIV prevention research and development, implementation and advocacy. Each issue includes updates, emerging issues and upcoming events. A PDF version of this report is also available.

Progress in PrEP Uptake

The HIVR4P 2024 conference, hosted this year in Lima, Peru, put a spotlight on PrEP delivery in Latin America. Since 2019, rates of HIV acquisition in the region have been trending upward, from 110,000 annually in 2019 to approximately 120,000 in 2023. At the same time, Latin America has taken strides to combat this trend, from increasing PrEP initiation rates to preparing for longer acting PrEP products, such as injectable cabotegravir (CAB) and lenacapavir (LEN).

  • At least 15 Latin American countries have approved oral PrEP. Brazil and Peru also approved CAB for PrEP, and it is under review in Chile, Mexico, and Colombia.
  • Four countries and one territory in the region, Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Peru, and Puerto Rico, have trial sites participating in the PURPOSE 2 trial, which showed LEN reduced HIV incidence by 96% compared to a background incidence, with 2 incident cases among 2,180 participants receiving LEN.
  • Latin American countries account for 306,000 cumulative PrEP initiations in the Global PrEP Tracker as of Q2 2024, which represent 4% of the global total.
  • Since 2019, PrEP initiations across the region continue to increase at a steady rate, with Brazil reaching about 194,000 cumulative PrEP initiations (63% of regional total) since the inception of its National PrEP Program.

Latest Trends in PrEP Uptake?

Find the latest trends on 2024 data in AVAC’s Global PrEP Tracker. Watch for the next update on November 22.

PrEParing for New Products

  • On October 2, Gilead Sciences announced six licenses to generic manufacturers in Egypt, India, and Pakistan to produce and market lenacapavir (LEN) for PrEP in 120 countries.
  • What’s new about this announcement? This marks an increase in speed, as compared to generic licenses for injectable CAB for PrEP. Gilead awarded these licenses even before submitting LEN for PrEP for regulatory approval in any country. Gilead’s license applies to 120 countries, which is more than the 90 countries covered by the generic license for CAB for PrEP. However, CAB for PrEP’s license also allows for generic supply in countries without patent barriers—by the time generic CAB for PrEP is available, this will be an additional 51 countries. Many countries with high HIV incidence have been left out of Gilead’s licensing deal; notably Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, and Peru, countries in which the PURPOSE 2 Phase III trials took place. In addition, Gilead’s licenses are more restrictive than ViiV’s, in terms of where generics can be marketed.
  • The timeline for generic LEN for PrEP to come to market is expected to be significantly shorter than for CAB for PrEP. Bioequivalence (BE) testing for LEN, which demonstrates a generic product works in the body in the same way as the originator product, is likely to be six months, versus the 18 months for CAB for PrEP, because of differences in the drug formulation. The rapid granting of voluntary licensing by Gilead also contributes to this shorter timeline.
  • Generic regulatory approval submission for LEN for PrEP may begin as early as the second half off 2026, two years after Gilead announced positive trial results. Generic CAB for PrEP is on track to submit for regulatory approval around the same time, approximately six years after the announcement of trial results.

Product Updates

  • CAB for PrEP has been approved in Cote d’Ivoire, Kenya, Myanmar, Namibia, and Ukraine. See AVAC’s Planning Matrix for more!

The Latest R&D in the Prevention Pipeline

Launched at HIVR4P in Lima, Peru in October 2024, the People’s Research Agenda (PRA) is a collaboratively developed framework for aligning the needs and priorities of affected communities with the agenda for HIV prevention research. 130 advocates from more than 20 countries contributed to the framework, which offers guidance on both research conduct and what products to develop.

PRA priorities include:

  • Support a choice-based prevention agenda with clear and realistic target product profiles that reflect the current and future landscape of HIV prevention. Begin with the end in mind by identifying and anticipating trial design issues (feasibility, cost, size, regulatory pathways) and implementation science questions so that the timeline from evidence to impact and to widespread access is as short as possible. Initiate access planning during efficacy trials to ensure expeditious rollout.
  • Center and invest in social and behavioral science that explores end users’ needs and preferences, informs target product profiles, and identifies and addresses social and structural barriers in HIV prevention.
  • Maintain advocacy across product categories to fill important gaps in a comprehensive HIV prevention toolbox. We must make newly efficacious products accessible, and vaccines, bnAbs, implants, and other products in early-phase development will also play an important role for a sustainable end to the epidemic.

Key considerations:

  • Invest in continuous learning so that advocates and communities where research is planned are equipped to weigh in on complex and evolving trial designs and approaches.
  • Novel trial designs using external controls are important in developing new prevention products. However, they must meet the rigorous standards of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to ensure they provide reliable answers to key research questions without compromising quality.
  • Trial designs must address the needs and concerns of highly impacted communities.
  • Products moved into trials should be ones that fill community-informed gaps, such as improving upon existing prevention methods with innovations in cost, mode of delivery, duration or level of protection and other parameters.
  • Participants should be supported to clearly understand how novel design elements, such as run-in or opt-out phases, may impact their involvement.
  • Ensure that regulators are prepared to review and react to the data generated by future trials, especially if it is a novel design.

The PRA is a living document—emerging priorities, challenges and opportunities will be reflected in ongoing updates. Please share your thoughts, reflections, and comments by emailing Grace Kumwenda at gkumwenda@avac.org. For more information on the People’s Research Agenda visit avac.org/peoples-research-agenda.

Prevention Playlist

AVAC develops a wide range of resources to inform decision making and action. Check out the latest:

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PxPulse: The Advocacy Chronicles with Danielle Campbell from PrEP in Black America

In this episode of the Advocacy Chronicles, we’re putting the spotlight on the US, on the dismal statistics on access to PrEP in Black communities, on the state of HIV prevention among Black Americans overall, and the work of one advocacy group— PrEP in Black America (PIBA). Danielle Campbell is one of the founders of PIBA and a long-time advocate for HIV prevention and health equity. She joins the Advocacy Chronicles to talk about PIBA’s call to action for an HIV research agenda that prioritizes the needs of Black communities. And we also explore the tactics that have led this group to quickly rise as a powerhouse, bringing together communities and government to find solutions that improve the US HIV response.

Danielle is a member of the research faculty at the Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science and a member of the community scientific subcommittee for a global HIV research network. She is an experienced clinical research manager who integrates principles of health equity and implementation science into biobehavioral research into HIV treatment, prevention and cure research and she is a past Chair of the HIV/AIDS Section of American Public Health Association (APHA) and has served as Chair of the Science Board and Co-Chair of the Joint Policy Committee.

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