The US State Department on Thursday announced it is bringing a new anti-HIV injection to market in several countries with high levels of the virus.
Under the plan, Gilead Sciences, which makes the long-acting HIV prevention drug lenacapavir, will provide the medication to up to 12 countries. The State Department did not identify those nations.
Jeremy Lewin, senior State Department official for foreign assistance, humanitarian affairs and religious freedom, said the US and the Global Fund to fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria initially hope to get two million people on the medication over the next three years.
“But we could easily see several times that if manufacturing can scale quickly,” Mr Lewin told reporters.
The US is providing the medication through Pepfar, the global Aids relief fund formed by then-president George W Bush.
Pregnant and breastfeeding mothers will initially be given priority to receive the medication. President Donald Trump's administration has set a goal of ending mother-to-child HIV transmission by the end of his second term.
“This is a really significant moment in history of the fight against HIV/Aids,” said Peter Sands, executive director of the Global Fund, who also attended the briefing.
“This is an opportunity to significantly reduce the 1.3 million new HIV infections there are every year. If we can reduce that, we can change the nature of the HIV/Aids pandemic quite dramatically.”
The medication is given in a twice-yearly injection. More than 99 per cent of people in clinical trials remained HIV-negative while on the drug, according to Gilead.
Gilead is providing the drug at no profit, Mr Lewin said.
“Gilead is very generously offering us a product at no cost, so we're not going to give away exactly what their cost per dose is, but we're grateful to them for offering it at a price that makes this possible. The US commitment is significant,” Mr Lewin said.
White hydrogen: Naturally occurring hydrogen
Chromite: Hard, metallic mineral containing iron oxide and chromium oxide
Ultramafic rocks: Dark-coloured rocks rich in magnesium or iron with very low silica content
Ophiolite: A section of the earth’s crust, which is oceanic in nature that has since been uplifted and exposed on land
Olivine: A commonly occurring magnesium iron silicate mineral that derives its name for its olive-green yellow-green colour
'Top Gun: Maverick'
Rating: 4/5
Directed by: Joseph Kosinski
Starring: Tom Cruise, Val Kilmer, Jennifer Connelly, Jon Hamm, Miles Teller, Glen Powell, Ed Harris
Wicked: For Good
Director: Jon M Chu
Starring: Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Ethan Slater
Rating: 4/5
Representing%20UAE%20overseas
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Scoreline
Ireland 16 (Tries: Stockdale Cons: Sexton Pens: Sexton 3)
New Zealand 9 (Pens: Barrett 2 Drop Goal: Barrett)
57%20Seconds
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
ACC%20T20%20Women%E2%80%99s%20Championship
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Results
1. New Zealand Daniel Meech – Fine (name of horse), Richard Gardner – Calisto, Bruce Goodin - Backatorps Danny V, Samantha McIntosh – Check In. Team total First round: 200.22; Second round: 201.75 – Penalties 12 (jump-off 40.16 seconds) Prize €64,000
2. Ireland Cameron Hanley – Aiyetoro, David Simpson – Keoki, Paul Kennedy – Cartown Danger Mouse, Shane Breen – Laith. Team total 200.25/202.84 – P 12 (jump-off 51.79 – P17) Prize €40,000
3. Italy Luca Maria Moneta – Connery, Luca Coata – Crandessa, Simone Coata – Dardonge, Natale Chiaudani – Almero. Team total 130.82/198.-4 – P20. Prize €32,000
Polarised public
31% in UK say BBC is biased to left-wing views
19% in UK say BBC is biased to right-wing views
19% in UK say BBC is not biased at all
Source: YouGov
Infiniti QX80 specs
Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
Power: 450hp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000
Available: Now
