Ferozsons Laboratories Expands HIV Prevention Access Through Lenacapavir Licensing Deal
Ferozsons Laboratories Limited (PSX: FEROZ) has entered into a royalty-free voluntary licensing agreement with Gilead Sciences for the international production and sale of generic lenacapavir, an important medicine being developed and used for HIV prevention and treatment.
The company disclosed the development to the Pakistan Stock Exchange on September 17, 2026, describing the agreement as an expansion of its existing strategy to improve access to twice-yearly lenacapavir for HIV prevention. The new agreement covers 120 high-incidence countries, primarily low- and lower-middle-income nations, and includes provisions for manufacturing readiness, technology transfer and future supply planning.
Agreement Covers 120 Countries
Under the non-exclusive licensing arrangement, Ferozsons will be able to manufacture and sell its licensed generic version of Gilead’s lenacapavir in the covered markets, subject to the necessary regulatory approvals.
The agreement also provides Ferozsons with rights to receive a technology transfer of Gilead’s manufacturing process. This is expected to support the company’s efforts to scale up production and prepare for wider availability of the medicine.
Ferozsons said it is one of six global partners to have successfully signed the voluntary licensing agreement with Gilead to produce a high-quality generic version of lenacapavir. The company noted that the arrangement represents an early HIV prevention access initiative undertaken while the Phase 3 PURPOSE 365 trial remains ongoing.
Potential of Once-Yearly HIV Prevention
Lenacapavir is being evaluated as a long-acting option for HIV prevention. According to the company’s disclosure, once-yearly lenacapavir, if approved, could potentially provide a full year of HIV prevention through a single dose.
The medicine’s long-acting approach could offer an alternative to more frequent prevention regimens, potentially addressing challenges associated with adherence and persistence. The company highlighted the significance of the program in the context of Gilead’s broader experience in developing HIV medicines and expanding global access.
Twice-yearly lenacapavir is already approved in multiple countries as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for reducing the risk of sexually acquired HIV in adults and adolescents at risk of HIV acquisition. It is also approved in multiple countries for the treatment of multidrug-resistant HIV in adults, in combination with other antiretroviral medicines.
Manufacturing Plans in Pakistan
Ferozsons is preparing for the potential availability of generic lenacapavir in the licensed markets. The company’s disclosure states that the injectable version will be manufactured through its subsidiary, BF Biosciences Limited (BFBI), under a contract manufacturing agreement and subsequently sold by Ferozsons.
The oral version, meanwhile, will be manufactured and sold directly by Ferozsons Laboratories.
The company said the initiative reflects continued efforts to make twice-yearly HIV prevention medicines available to more people in regions with significant unmet medical needs.
A Strategic Step for Ferozsons
The licensing agreement provides Ferozsons with an opportunity to participate in the expanding global market for long-acting HIV prevention medicines while building manufacturing capabilities through technology transfer.
However, the company’s ability to manufacture and market the generic product will remain subject to applicable regulatory approvals in the relevant countries.
For Ferozsons, the agreement marks a significant development in its international pharmaceutical activities and places the company among a limited group of global partners working under Gilead’s voluntary licensing framework for generic lenacapavir.
