Afrocab Update on CAB-LA Progress

We and our community partners are continuing to fight for cabotegravir long-acting injectable (CAB-LA) access for our communities. Since our initial meeting in February and the release of our previous statements (March 1st; March 17th), no meaningful steps, including the issuance of a voluntary generic license by ViiV Healthcare, has taken place to ensure generic access for CAB-LA. ViiV continues to avoid transparent discussions with the community, and, in a private virtual meeting, has stated that their lowest not-for-profit price would be between $240-270 per patient per year. However, reputable analysis demonstrates that CAB-LA can be produced for less than $25 per person per year. Without immediate action, it will be years before this vital product reaches our communities at scale and at an affordable price point.

Because of these continued challenges, over the past several weeks, we have held several discussions with partners from around the globe to identify steps we can undertake to fight for CAB-LA access. We have formed a community and civil society advisory group that is actively working on global and national actions the community can take. If you are interested in being a part of this group, please reach out to Jacque Wambui (jcqwambui@gmail.com).

We will not relent until CAB-LA is firmly in the hands of our communities. Further actions are coming soon.   

TIMELINES

  • 20 December 2021: FDA approves CAB-LA.
  • 2  March 2022: Afrocab releases a community position statement signed by almost 200 organizations and individuals from around the world demanding widespread CAB-LA access.
  • 4 March 2022: ViiV announces it will not pursue voluntary licensing for CAB-LA, effectively ensuring access for our communities will be limited.
  • 7 March 2022: ViiV alters its position on CAB-LA licensing following a significant outcry by community organizations around the world. ViiV indicated it was “open to” voluntary generic licensing for CAB-LA.
  • 7 March 2022: In a virtual private meeting, ViiV shares that their initial not-for-profit price would be between $240-270 per patient per year. This price is well-above what low-income countries can afford.
  • 17 March 2022: Afrocab releases its response to ViiV’s actions (or lack thereof). We again, urgently demand that ViiV initiate generic licensing for CAB-LA alongside several other key demands.
  • 4 April 2022: Medicines Patent Pool and ViiV release a statement stating they are collaborating to identify a path forward for CAB-LA licensing. The statement then goes on to discuss several unsubstantiated manufacturing and implementation barriers that would supposedly slow access in our settings. However, there is no evidence for any of these barriers and, to date, no meaningful steps, including the issuance of a voluntary license by ViiV Healthcare, have been completed to ensure the availability of a low-cost generic product in LMICs.
  • 5 April 2022: Afrocab, alongside its community partners, forms a community and civil society advisory group that is actively working on global and national actions the community can take to ensure widespread CAB-LA access.

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Published: May 20, 2022
Last edited: February 27, 2024