STAT+: Merck is urged by patient groups to ensure widespread access to an HIV prevention pill being tested

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Source: STAT News

Original: https://www.statnews.com/pharmalot/2026/02/11/merck-aids-hiv-access-gilead-prici...

Published: Wed, 11 Feb 2026 21:21:53 +0000

Advocacy groups from 30 countries are urging Merck to ensure broad access to the trial HIV prevention pill. The pill is taken once a month and is still in clinical trials. Patient groups are asking Merck to create a global access strategy. This medicine is intended for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) against HIV. Merck plans to launch a phase 3 trial in collaboration with the Gates Foundation. The EXPrESSIVE-11 study included 4,390 sexually active people in 16 countries and compared it with daily FTC/TDF. The EXPrESSIVE-10 study will enroll 4,580 women aged 16–30 in Kenya, South Africa and Uganda. Recruitment for the trial will begin in August 2025 and in the following months.