Nigeria, Sept. 24 -- The Gates Foundation has announced a new partnership with Indian manufacturer Hetero Labs to drive down the cost and expand access to a groundbreaking HIV prevention drug and accelerate access for millions of people in low- and middle-income countries.

The agreement, announced in New York on Wednesday, will allow Hetero Labs to produce a generic version of lenacapavir, the world's first twice-yearly injectable pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), to be sold at about $40 per patient annually.

This will come after a short oral pre-treatment regimen.

"Hetero is pleased to partner with the Gates Foundation to create a pathway for the sustainable and affordable supply of lenacapavir," said Vamsi Krishna, managing director o...