Brazilian Chamber Advances Bill to Declare Lenacapavir Injection Public Interest for HIV Treatment
Brazil's Chamber of Deputies reviews a bill to declare Lenacapavir injection public interest, aiming to improve affordable access to HIV treatment via the public health system.
- • The bill proposes declaring Lenacapavir, a six-monthly HIV injection, as public interest medication.
- • Lenacapavir offers treatment for multi-drug resistant HIV with semi-annual dosing.
- • High cost currently limits Lenacapavir’s integration into Brazil’s SUS system.
- • The declaration allows for affordable national production or importation under Industrial Property Law.
Key details
The Brazilian Chamber of Deputies is reviewing Project Law 418/26, which proposes declaring the long-acting HIV medication Lenacapavir as a public interest drug, facilitating its incorporation into the public health system (SUS). Lenacapavir, notable for its semi-annual injection schedule, offers new hope in preventing and treating HIV, including multi-drug resistant strains. The bill, authored by Deputy Duda Salabert of the PSOL party from Minas Gerais, aims to overcome the current barrier posed by the high cost of Lenacapavir, which limits its availability through SUS.
Declaring Lenacapavir of public interest would invoke provisions under Brazil's Industrial Property Law, enabling domestic production, importation, or acquisition at more affordable prices suitable for SUS budgets. Salabert emphasized, “The declaration of public interest for Lenacapavir is a legitimate and necessary instrument to enable production, importation, or acquisition at prices compatible with the SUS's capacity.”
The project will undergo evaluation by key legislative committees including Industry, Commerce and Services; Health; and Constitution and Justice and Citizenship, before requiring approval by both the Chamber and the Senate to become law. This initiative marks a significant step toward expanding access to innovative HIV treatments in Brazil's public health system, potentially improving care for thousands living with HIV.
This article was translated and synthesized from Brazilian sources, providing English-speaking readers with local perspectives.
