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by quitit 606 days ago
The problem is the cost, in Europe and the USA the treatment is over $40,000 USD per year, which isn't realistic for regular people.
3 comments

Every gay person I know, myself included, is on prep. From the VP at a Fortune 500 on down to a coffeeshop barista. Cost is not an issue, at least not in the United States.
I believe you might be referring to tablet-based PrEP, that treatment is a few hundred dollars a year depending on your geographic region.

The $40k+ price is the cost of the 2x pa injectable form. This is a relatively newer treatment and not widespread.

How does wide spread PrEP use affect sexual behavior?
Pretty much exactly what you expect given than promiscuity is not taboo in the gay community.

All in all, HIV just isn't a problem anymore. It's on the same sort of threat scale as any other STD. Even if you're infected, you just continue taking PrEP (technically PEP) for the rest of your life and that's about it. Normal life expectancy and not much other health complications for most people with consistent treatment.

Drug plans often bring this down to $0-600/year out of pocket
It's frankly nuts that we don't make preventative medicine for transmissable diseases free in the rich world. It's so obviously in the collective interest to reduce prevalence.
The problem is, as usual, payment.

There have been many failed attempts at developing suppressive, curative and preventative medicine against HIV over the decades, and not all of that was funded by charities or government grants that don't expect repayment - especially not the later stage trials.

> problem is, as usual, payment

If only we had an institution with the aim of pursuing the long-term interests of the collective.

We don’t, or at least not everyone agrees we do. Some of us think that we only have an institution that administers peace and order, and believe that pursuing the good is a private, voluntary concern.
Isn’t that the starting price? Insurance and countries can buy in bulk and bring it down. Then overtime doesn’t the price come down due to competition from generics?
The $40k price is the current price in the USA.

Generics aren't possible in markets where the patent holder enforces their rights. The article is about how Gilead will allow certain poverty ridden countries to access the drug without the need to pay a licensing cost (i.e. they can receive a "generic").