Lenacapavir and Dr. Reddy’s: Advancing the Future of HIV Treatment and Prevention

The global fight against HIV has entered a transformative phase with the emergence of Lenacapavir, a first-in-class long-acting antiretroviral therapy. In a significant step toward improving access to this breakthrough innovation, Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories has partnered with Gilead Sciences to help expand the reach of Lenacapavir across India and several other countries. This collaboration represents not just a scientific milestone but a powerful commitment to global public health.

Understanding Lenacapavir: A Breakthrough in HIV Care

Lenacapavir is a capsid inhibitor, a novel mechanism of action that targets the HIV-1 capsid protein, disrupting multiple stages of the viral life cycle. Unlike traditional antiretroviral therapies that require daily dosing, Lenacapavir is designed as a long-acting injectable, administered just twice a year. Initially approved for adults with multi-drug-resistant HIV, Lenacapavir has demonstrated strong potential to reshape HIV management by:

• Improving treatment adherence
• Reducing pill burden
• Offering new hope to patients with limited therapeutic options
• Beyond treatment, Lenacapavir is also being studied extensively for HIV prevention (PrEP), where it could play a game-changing role in reducing new infections worldwide.

Dr. Reddy’s and Gilead: A Strategic Voluntary Licensing Partnership

Recognising the importance of equitable access, Gilead Sciences entered a royalty-free, non-exclusive voluntary licensing agreement with Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories. Under this agreement, Dr. Reddy’s will:

• Manufacture and commercialise Lenacapavir in India and up to 120 low and lower-middle-income countries
• Undertake technology transfer, clinical studies, and regulatory approvals
• Enable broader and faster patient access once approvals are in place
• Importantly, the licence covers both:
• The current approved indication for treatment-experienced HIV patients
• Future prevention indications, subject to regulatory approvals

This positions Dr. Reddy’s as a key partner in expanding the global footprint of one of the most promising HIV innovations of the decade. 

Expanding Access, Reducing Inequity

Access remains one of the biggest challenges in global HIV care. Long-acting therapies like Lenacapavir have immense potential, but only if they are affordable and widely available.

• Dr. Reddy’s brings decades of experience in:
• High-quality, cost-effective manufacturing
• Complex generics and injectables
• Scaling access to life-saving therapies in resource-limited settings

Through this collaboration, Lenacapavir is expected to reach millions who might otherwise face barriers to advanced HIV treatment and prevention.

A Step Toward Ending the HIV Epidemic

The partnership between Dr. Reddy’s and Gilead reflects a shared vision: science serving society. By combining cutting-edge innovation with large-scale manufacturing and distribution capabilities, this initiative supports global efforts to:

• Improve long-term HIV treatment outcomes
• Strengthen prevention strategies
• Move closer to the goal of ending the HIV epidemic

Conclusion

Lenacapavir represents a new era in HIV care, one defined by innovation, simplicity, and long-acting solutions. Dr. Reddy’s role in bringing this therapy to markets where it is needed most underscores its commitment to accessible healthcare and global well-being.

As regulatory pathways progress and access expands, this collaboration has the potential to change lives and redefine what is possible in HIV treatment and prevention.