Ugandan biotechnology company Dei Biopharma has announced plans to manufacture a generic version of Lenacapavir (brand name: Yeztugo), a recently FDA-approved HIV-1 treatment currently priced at $28,000 annually.
The firm says it will offer the same drug to Least Developed Countries (LDCs) for under $50, positioning itself as a key player in transforming global access to life-saving medication.
The announcement, made via press release on Sunday, June 22, follows the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s June 18, 2025 approval of the drug, developed by American pharmaceutical giant Gilead Sciences. Lenacapavir is a long-acting injectable HIV-1 capsid inhibitor that only requires dosing every six months—a game-changing advance in HIV prevention and treatment.
Dei Biopharma, led by Ugandan scientist Dr. Matthias Magoola, said it plans to roll out the drug within 18 months, leveraging Uganda’s status as a Least Developed Country under the WTO’s TRIPS Agreement, which allows patent exemptions for production of generic drugs for domestic use and export to other LDCs until 2034.
“HIV is a serious threat to Africa, but at a high cost, the treatments are unaffordable,” the company noted. “This will be the first complete treatment of HIV in Africa, offered at a price the continent can afford.”
The announcement has drawn global attention, particularly from UNAIDS Executive Director Winnie Byanyima, a long-time advocate for lowering the cost of essential medicines.
“UNAIDS has seen research that Lenacapavir can be produced for just $40 per person per year,” Byanyima said.
“It is beyond comprehension how Gilead can justify a price of $28,218. If this game-changing medicine remains unaffordable, it will change nothing. I urge Gilead to do the right thing—drop the price, expand production, and ensure the world has a shot at ending AIDS.”
Beyond HIV, Dei Biopharma is expanding its Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) manufacturing to cover a range of critical and expensive treatments needed in developing nations.
Dr. Magoola emphasized that the company is focused on producing affordable innovations in cancer, infectious diseases, and chronic conditions, making Uganda a hub for cutting-edge pharmaceutical production.
The firm recently filed over 100 patents with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), including for CAR-T cell immunotherapy for cancer, a treatment that typically costs over $500,000 but which Dei Biopharma aims to deliver for under $100 per patient.
Dr. Magoola’s contributions have earned him global recognition. He was recently honored with Uganda’s “Faces of Science” award and has received international accolades including the African Excellence & Personality Awards (ACEPA) and Ratna Pharma Awards. His scientific work includes a recent publication in the journal Cancers on RNA-based cancer vaccines.
Dei Biopharma is also building a multi-billion-dollar vaccine and drug manufacturing facility in Matugga, outside Kampala.
The facility is expected to produce treatments for malaria, tuberculosis, diabetes, sickle cell disease, Alzheimer’s, and Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD)—the latter supported by a U.S.-granted universal vaccine patent secured by Magoola earlier this year.
In April 2025, President Yoweri Museveni pledged full government support to the company during a meeting with the Dei Biopharma team.
He cited the firm as one of Uganda’s “flagship investments in the emerging pathogenic economy” during the State of the Nation Address, and committed to accelerating regulatory approvals and passage of the National Drug and Health Products Act.
“We are grateful for the support from the government, and especially President Museveni, for his unwavering backing of Ugandan scientists,” said Dr. Magoola. “Without this leadership, our progress would not have been possible.”
With international regulatory goals in sight—including achieving WHO’s Maturity Level 3 status for Uganda’s National Drug Authority—Dei Biopharma is poised to become a global force in pharmaceutical innovation from Africa.
