AIDS activists slam 'pharma greed' over breakthrough
Activists at the 26th International AIDS Conference in Rio de Janeiro protested against pharmaceutical companies for restricting access to the HIV prevention drug lenacapavir. They argue that middle-income countries are being unfairly excluded from affordable generic versions of the life-saving medication.
Why it matters
The protest highlights the ongoing tension between pharmaceutical patent protections and global public health equity.
Health: AIDS activists slam 'pharma greed' over breakthrough
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AIDS activists slam 'pharma greed' over breakthrough drug
Protesters burst onto the stage at the opening of the 26th International AIDS Conference in Rio de Janeiro bearing signs reading: "Pharma greed is killing us," and "You use our bodies then deny us access."
People protest during the opening ceremony of the 26th International AIDS Conference in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on July 27, 2026. (AFP Photo)
Rio De Janeiro - Activists at a major AIDS conference in Brazil this week demanded wider access to generic versions of a breakthrough HIV prevention drug, which can cost tens of thousands of dollars a year.
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