Mumbai: There will be a dramatic shift in how the world prevents HIV and the timelines depend on how quickly Indian drug regulators act.

A US-based pharma giant has granted royalty-free licences to four Indian generic manufacturers to produce lenacapavir , which prevents transmission by almost 100%, at $40 per person per year, roughly 0.1% of the original cost.

Lenacapavir is an injectable drug whose protection from one jab lasts six months. The licensed manufacturers by Gilead Sciences include Dr Reddy's, Hetero, Emcureand Mylan. The first two have announced their pricing. The drugs are estimated to roll out in 2027.

But, it could be much sooner or delayed, and what happens in India will impact local access as well as 115 low- and middle-income countries as these firms will be ke

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