UNITAID

Gilead created this incredible product.

But I think what is very unique about it is instead of waiting, which often happens in global health for those breakthrough drugs to decrease in price and make it to markets, Chai worked very closely with Gilead, as well as Indian pharmaceutical companies, Dr. Reddy's Lab and other partners like Unitaid and the Gates Foundation to say, we know this transformational drug is coming online now.

How do we do two things to make sure that the people who need it most are going to be able to access it at scale? The first is, how do we radically drop the price so that the poorest people on earth can get it, which is where the most HIV is? And then secondly, how do we get it through regulatory approval, that new generic drug, as fast as possible? And I think on both, it really is one of the most remarkable things that's happened in global health.

So that $28,000 per year price point in the U.S., Chai was able to negotiate a price point of $40 per patient per year in the poorest 100 or so countries on earth, which is amazing.

Yeah, well, I think you've stated it well, which is, you know, in order to get these big deals that really, you know, transform how accessible a drug is globally, it requires a mix of the personal and relational with the technocratic and hard negotiation.

So on the personal and relational side, You know, Gilead shared when they were early in the drug development process and going into phase three trials that we've got a candidate that we think could be really compelling and effective.

And so for years, honestly, before we actually had the final results, I was working with Gilead, with the Gates Foundation, with Global Fund, with Unitaid in order to say, okay, if the drug is effective, let's start thinking about what the model could look like to make it radically cheaper and accessible in these markets.

And that relational part is really important because Gilead needs to let people into the tent early on.