lenacapivir breakthrough, huge (prevented 100% of infections, only needs to be taken twice a year vs prep needing to be taken daily): https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/article/2024/jul/26/lenacapavir-drug-trial-linda-gail-bekker-treating-hiv-aids-africa-women-pregnancy
so troubling that gilead sciences is pricing it at ~$40K when it's demonstrated to still be profitable at $40 -- 10 000x cheaper -- and there's no guarantee it'll be anywhere near there for americans. mostly disappointing and another negative indicator of where i want to place myself in immunology work in the future -- wondering if an alternative structure to big pharma for mass developing and mass manufacturing drugs like lenacapivir are possible? one more removed from an obsession with profits and focused on global health outcomes? intuitively (could be totally wrong) this feels possible at the focused research org or startup level but maintaining these values feels less possible as a company scales into a corporation while under late-stage capitalism. is the answer more restrictive policy? subsidies? not sure but i want a world of pharma that's earnest in its claims to wanting to help people + want to help build that future