Aspen Pharmacare Ditches Local Lenacapavir Production Plans Amid Demand Concerns

South Africa's largest pharmaceutical manufacturer, Aspen Pharmacare, has decided not to invest in local production of Gilead Sciences' HIV prevention shot lenacapavir. The company cited a lack of guaranteed demand from the government as the reason for its decision.

Citing 'no-one's going to promise us volumes', Aspen CEO Stephen Saad said that his company cannot risk repeating the situation it faced during the COVID-19 pandemic, where they clinched a deal with Johnson & Johnson but received no orders. South Africa has the world's largest HIV burden, with about 8 million people living with the disease.

Lenaacapavir has been hailed as a potential game-changer in the fight against the HIV pandemic because it provides almost complete protection against infection. Despite Aspen's withdrawal of its expression of interest, the South African National Aids Council (Sanac) remains committed to improving local security of supply by reducing reliance on imported lenacapavir.

Aspen is instead targeting Merck's experimental pill alimatravir, which the company sees as a 'really exciting opportunity'. Alimatravir is expected to have wider appeal and be easier to provide to patients than injectables. Merck has announced that it will award voluntary licences for the pill before the conclusion of phase 3 clinical trials.