Shortages in Germany of a drug used by tens of thousands of people in the country to protect against HIV infections caused by supply chain issues are causing growing concern.
Several drugmakers have reported challenges in manufacturing pre-exposure prophylaxis, also known as PrEP, a widely used medication that suppresses the replication of the HIV virus in the body.
There are currently not enough drugs to supply all those prescribed PrEP, according to a survey by the German Association of Outpatient Physicians for Infectious Diseases and HIV Medicine (DAGNÄ).
The vast majority of HIV specialty clinics in the country are affected by the supply bottlenecks, with most only able to issue patients with reduced pack sizes, according to the survey.
The group said that some users even had to stop taking the drug or change their therapy. The medication is also taken by people who are already infected with HIV.
If protection against HIV continues to fail, this will have "fatal consequences," warned Sven Warminsky from the board of Deutsche Aidshilfe, an HIV/AIDS advocacy group. He said that safe sex is being endangered by the shortage.
"Politicians must not abandon people who urgently need this medication," Warminsky said.
According to Germany's public health agency, the Robert Koch Institute, around 40,000 people in Germany were regularly using PrEP as of September 2023.
Germany's Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM) told dpa that there has been "a trend towards limited availability" of the drug since the turn of the year.
Since September 2019, daily tablets of PrEP have been covered by public health insurance in Germany for people with a substantial risk of HIV infection.
"According to the data available to us, the availability of these medicines will stabilize slightly at the beginning of February," said a BfArM spokesman.
However, most supply bottlenecks are currently predicted to last until March or April, he said.
According to the BfArM, some manufacturers are trying to increase product quotas or launch them on the market earlier than originally planned.
It is also currently clarifying whether medicines from abroad could be made available.
"Initial feedback shows that product quotas could be identified in the United States," said the agency's spokesman.