Medical Profiteering - Inaccessible Life Saving Drugs

The development of Lenacapavir, a drug that could potentially be used effectively against one of the most potent diseases in the world - AIDS, has been a major breakthrough in the world of medicine.

However, the company, Gilead Sciences, who created the drug is shrouded in some controversy, with activists claiming that the company may go as far as increasing the price of the drug making it inaccessible in underprivileged nations - where it is probably required most.

HIV is a deadly disease which damages the body's immune system and breaks down the walls of defense against other deadly diseases like cancer. While currently available medication, PrEP pills like Truvada are reasonably effective and definitely help treat the disease, however, initial test results of Lenacapavir suggest 100% efficacy. Results were released at the AIDS 2024 conference which confirmed the data. So why would the company who made this life changing drug withhold it from those who need it most?

The company that created the drug is called Gilead Sciences. Like all companies, Gilead is interested in making a profit.The public are worried that Gilead will not provide the voluntary license agreements required to the government which means that cheaper generic versions of the drug will not be available. I believe that the current situation is a parallel to the Covid 19 vaccine apartheid where the richer western companies stockpiled on vaccines giving their citizens second and third doses, while countries in poorer countries like, Africa struggled for a single dose. It begs the question of why the creation and pricing of life saving medicine is left in the hands of pharmaceutical companies rather than the government itself. 

I don’t pretend to understand the cost-profit ratio of creating and selling this kind of medicine, however, I take the humanitarian stance which is that medicine which could save lives needs to be available, accessible and affordable for all. I think that government organisations should do more to help in the research and creation of medical products. Unfortunately, companies are required to make a profit to help continue their business. However, governments could use a portion of the tax they collect for medical research rather than just developing infrastructure or building unnecessary roads and shopping centers.

As a whole, I believe that the new miracle drug Lenacapavir has once again highlighted the complex balance between profit and the need to help those who are struggling. There must be a way to prevent profit-seeking corporations from withholding life saving medication - whether that solution is a government stake in every pharmaceutical research company, more government- research centres or worldwide legislation by a body like the WHO on what is deemed life saving medicines. 

Access to healthcare should be a basic right of every individual on the planet regardless of economic status.