TL;DR
- CVS says Gilead’s new PrEP drug Yeztugo is absurdly overpriced in U.S.
- Drug costs $28,000 here vs. $40 generic abroad
- CVS refusing to cover it until price drops
- HIV prevention advocates say access is critical
- Queer community stands to benefit — if they can afford it
CVS Claps Back at PrEP Price
The cost of staying HIV-free shouldn’t be luxury-priced
A pharmacy giant just snapped — and honestly, good. CVS is telling pharmaceutical powerhouse Gilead to stop playing games with gay lives and lower the ridiculous price of its new PrEP injection Yeztugo. The drug, also known as lenacapavir, promises near-perfect HIV prevention — but only if people can actually afford it.
Dr. Michelle Gourdine, chief medical officer for CVS Caremark, fired off an email to advocates at PrEP4All explaining why CVS isn’t covering Yeztugo yet. In short: $28,000 per year. Meanwhile, the exact same treatment is expected to sell for $40 overseas. We’ll pause while your jaw drops.
“We believe that easy access to PrEP medications is critical for Americans who may be exposed to HIV,” Gourdine wrote. CVS claims their formularies already include effective injectables and pills, and exceptions can still be made for patients who desperately need Yeztugo. But why should queer Americans beg for access to a lifesaving drug simply because Big Pharma smells profit?
CVS didn’t mince words: “It is clear, Gilead can lower its price in the U.S. for Yeztugo.” They even called out “inappropriate” attempts by brand-name manufacturers to game guidelines with overpriced alternatives. Translation: Stop being shady.
Prevention, priced like a luxury handbag
The CDC has already endorsed Yeztugo, highlighting its twice-yearly injection schedule and near-100% effectiveness in trials. That makes it a potential game-changer for people who struggle with daily pills — including countless queer folks at highest risk.
No more missed doses. No more stigma of seeing a pill bottle on the nightstand. Just freedom and peace of mind, delivered twice a year.
Gilead — the company that turned PrEP into a multibillion dollar empire — insists Yeztugo is a “transformative scientific advancement” poised to reshape HIV prevention. But what good is a revolution if only wealthy people get to see it?
CVS’s stance is blunt: a generics-first policy saves lives through affordability. And until Yeztugo’s price reflects reality — not greed — they’re not recommending it.
What this means for our community
This isn’t just a corporate slap-fight. This is about queer survival.
High prices directly block:
- Young gay men with no insurance
- Trans women who already fight healthcare discrimination
- LGBTQ+ people of color hit hardest by HIV rates
- Anyone struggling to make rent, never mind $28k medications
Advances in HIV prevention are supposed to liberate us, not divide us by income. Every barrier to access keeps infection rates high — and keeps stigma alive.
If the U.S. becomes the only country where Yeztugo is too pricey to use widely, that’s not innovation — that’s exploitation.
CVS snapping back at Gilead may not solve everything overnight, but it sends a message loud and clear:
You don’t get to profit off queer safety while turning it into a luxury item.
Now, it’s on Gilead to prove they care about ending the HIV epidemic — not just cashing in on it.