A new long-acting injectable drug, lenacapavir, is set to revolutionize HIV prevention efforts. Administered twice a year, this innovative treatment has the potential to protect millions of people at high risk of infection. Under an arrangement backed by major donors, at least two million individuals in countries supported by the Global Fund and PEPFAR could benefit from lenacapavir over the next three years.
Developed by Gilead Sciences, lenacapavir was tested in Uganda and South Africa, demonstrating complete protection for study participants. This innovation has significant potential to transform HIV prevention efforts, particularly in countries like Uganda, which records 38,000 new HIV infections annually despite existing measures.
Regulatory approvals from the US FDA, national pharmaceutical regulators, and WHO are required before lenacapavir can be used for HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). Executive Director of the Global Fund, Peter Sands, expressed optimism about lenacapavir’s potential to significantly reduce new infections. The US Global AIDS Coordinator, Ambassador Dr John Nkengasong, highlighted the drug’s ability to transform HIV programs and help end the disease as a public health threat by 2030.
Source: https://newscentral.africa/new-hiv-prevention-drug-lenacapavir-to-reach-2-million-people