Gilead Sciences is wasting no time in promoting worldwide access to its twice-yearly pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) HIV candidate lenacapavir. | The company will allow six generic manufacturers to make and sell its long-acting PrEP drug,

If approved, the six manufacturers – Dr Reddy’s Laboratories Limited, Emcure, Eva Pharma, Ferozsons Laboratories Limited, Hetero, and Mylan (a subsidiary of Viatris) – will be able to produce and distribute generic versions of lenacapavir without paying royalties to Gilead.

Gilead Sciences said on Wednesday it has granted royalty-free licenses to six generic drug manufacturers to make and sell cheaper copycat versions of its HIV prevention medicine in 120 low and lower-middle income countries.

Gilead Sciences Inc. said it is licensing its twice-yearly experimental HIV prevention drug lenacapavir to six generics makers after coming under fire from HIV advocates who argued the company was prioritizing profit over patients.

Gilead will license the HIV drug lenacapavir, a twice-yearly injectable, to six generic makers for 120 countries.