Aspen Wins Rights to Merck’s Monthly HIV Pill in 129 Countries
Updated
Updated · Bloomberg · Jul 24
Aspen Wins Rights to Merck’s Monthly HIV Pill in 129 Countries
3 articles · Updated · Bloomberg · Jul 24
Summary
Aspen Pharmacare secured rights to develop, manufacture and commercialize an experimental once-monthly HIV prevention pill across 129 low- and middle-income countries, including every African nation.
Merck granted the South African drugmaker the license as part of a broader push to expand low-cost access to alimatravir, its monthly pre-exposure prophylaxis pill still in late-stage trials.
Aspen is one of three sub-Saharan African manufacturers selected, alongside companies in Kenya and Uganda, under Merck’s voluntary licensing program.
The wider program covers seven generic drugmakers and targets regions hit hard by HIV, after 1.2 million new infections were recorded globally in 2025.
Could a once-a-month pill finally end the HIV epidemic, or will broken health systems block it from reaching those in need?
Is early generic licensing a true humanitarian breakthrough, or a strategic maneuver to dominate the future HIV prevention market?
Breaking Barriers: Merck’s Early Generic Licensing of Alimatravir for HIV Prevention in 129 Countries
Overview
In July 2026, Merck took a major step in HIV prevention by signing non-exclusive licensing agreements with generic manufacturers in sub-Saharan Africa and India for its once-monthly oral drug, alimatravir. This move allows these manufacturers to quickly prepare for large-scale production and distribution across 129 low- and middle-income countries, bypassing the usual delays. Alimatravir’s easy-to-make oral tablet form and forgiving dosing schedule help users stick to prevention, while regional manufacturing in Africa and India boosts supply resilience and strengthens local health systems. However, some countries are excluded from these agreements, highlighting ongoing access challenges.