“Not in Our Name” – African HIV Treatment Advocates React to Gilead’s Voluntary Licensing Agreement on Lenacapavir

Press Statement – 4 October 2024

Today’s announcement by Gilead that six generic manufacturers have been awarded voluntary licenses for the production of lenacapavir—a groundbreaking, twice-yearly injectable for HIV prevention and potential treatment—raises significant concerns despite the inclusion of most African countries in the license territory.

Exclusionary Practices: While most countries of the continent are part of the licensed territory, one African country, Algeria, has been excluded without any justification. Also, several other low- and middle-income countries in Latin America and Asia have been left out, despite the absence of granted patents, thus creating new and unmerited monopolies for Gilead. These exclusions establish unfair barriers to access that we cannot overlook.

Solidarity with Excluded Countries: As African treatment advocates, we recognize the potential impact of this license to waive patent protections in several countries and expedite access to generics. However, we stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Algeria but also in other excluded nations. No country should be left behind in access to life-saving medicines.

Concerns Over Supply Chain Dependence: We are concerned that out of the six licensed generic manufacturers, only one is based in Africa. This perpetuates Africa’s reliance on non-African manufacturers, undermining the continent’s ability to achieve self-sufficiency in drug manufacturing at a critical time when there is a strong call for local production and capacity building in Africa.

Access Barriers and Monopolistic Tactics: By binding key generic manufacturers to such agreements, Gilead is effectively locking supply options for excluded countries and restricting their ability to utilize compulsory licensing. This is a clear example of how Gilead’s so-called access strategies are being used to create and secure new monopolies, undermining the ability of countries to use TRIPS flexibilities such as compulsory licenses to address public health needs.

Call for True Global Access: Lenacapavir has the potential to be a game-changer for HIV prevention and HIV treatment in the future. Every person in need should be able to access it, regardless of where they live. Access strategies should prioritize the health needs of all people, not the monopolistic interests of pharmaceutical companies. We call on Gilead to revise its licensing strategy to include all excluded

countries and manufacturers, and to commit to an approach that truly reflects global health equity.

As African HIV treatment advocates strongly denounce Gilead’s exclusionary tactics and reaffirm our commitment to ensuring that no person is left behind in the fight against HIV.

Signing Organizations:
East & Southern Africa:
● Dandora Community Aids Support Association – Kenya
● Ringa Women Fighting Aids Group – Kenya
● International Community of Women living with HIV – Kenya
● Kenya Legal and Ethical Issues Network on HIV and AIDS (KELIN) – Kenya
● Wote Youth Development Projects CBO – Kenya
● Nelson Mandela TB HIV Information CBO – Kenya
● Network of TB Champions Kenya (NTBC-K) – Kenya
● Pamoja TB Group – Kenya
● Coast Sex Workers Alliance Kenya (COSWA-K) – Kenya
● Key Population Consortium of Kenya (KPC) – Kenya
● Good Health Community Programmes – Kenya
● Transform a Girl’s Life (TAGL) – Kenya
● AIDS and Rights Alliance for Southern Africa (ARASA) – South Africa
● Dumaic Global Health (DGH) – Uganda
● Center for Health, Human Rights and Development (CEHURD) – Uganda
● Centre for Women’s Justice Uganda (CWJU)
● Community Health Rights Advocacy (CHeRA) – Malawi
● ENDA Santé – Senegal
● The People’s Matrix Association – Lesotho
● Impact Santé Afrique – Cameroon.
West & Central Africa:
● ONG ASEFCE – Benin
● ONG OJADE – Benin
● Association des Gestionnaires pour le Développement – Mauritania
● Mouvement pour les Libertés Individuelles – Burundi
● Réseau Africain des Personnes vivant avec le VIH Afrique de l’Ouest (RAP+AO) /
Network of African People living with HIV West Africa (NAP+WA) – Burkina Faso
● Homme pour les droits et la santé sexuelle (HODSAS) – DRC
● UMANDE – DRC
● Alliance Congolaise des Droits Humains Projet Travail du Sexe (ACODHU-TS)
● CITAMplus – Zambia
● Coalition of Zambian Women Living with HIV – Zambia

North Africa:
● International Treatment Preparedness Coalition (ITPC-MENA) – Morocco
● Transgender Red Umbrella (TGRU.org) – Morocco
● Association Marocaine de la Vie Positive (KAYNIN+) – Morocco
● MENA Community (Network of individuals living with HIV in the Middle East and
North Africa)
● ATL MST SIDA TUNIS – Tunisia
● Association Tunisienne De Prévention Positive – Tunisia
● Association Rêve de Vivre Positive – Algeria
● Association de Lutte Contre le Sida – Morocco
● Association Ma Santé Mon Environnement – Egypt

This statement reflects the concerns of African HIV treatment advocates. In addition
to the African organizations leading this call, we are grateful for the support of several
international allies who stand in solidarity with us. While this is a primarily African-led
initiative, the global nature of the HIV response requires a united front, and we
welcome the additional backing from international organizations.

International Support:
● Global Fund Advocates Network (GFAN)
● Coalition PLUS
● Harm Reduction International – UK
● LHL International – Norway
● AIDS-Fondet – Denmark
● Wemos – The Netherlands
● Chasing Zero – UK
● Corresponsales Clave – Mexico
● Rekat Peduli Indonesia Foundation – Indonesia

For any inquiries, please contact us via email at: othmane.marrakchi@itpcmena.org, or by
phone at +212 623 737 536.