South Africa rolls out twice-yearly HIV prevention drug
Officials say the rollout could reach 3 million people over three years as South Africa seeks to curb new infections and improve adherence.
- On Friday, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa launched lenacapavir, a twice-yearly HIV prevention injection, making it available at 360 public health facilities across six provinces in high-burden districts.
- Health officials introduced the injection to overcome adherence barriers linked to daily oral pills, building on regulatory approval from the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority on October 27, 2025.
- Clinical trials demonstrated almost 100% efficacy for the subcutaneous injection, while the government expects generic versions to cost around $40 per person annually by 2027.
- Dr. Saiqa Mullick, a PrEP specialist at Wits RHI, warned that U.S. funding cuts have "undermined prevention programmes," complicating infrastructure needed for the rollout.
- The United Nations General Assembly prepares for its High-Level Meeting on AIDS from June 22-23, 2026, as modeling suggests an ambitious rollout could help AIDS cease as a major public health problem by 2043.
29 Articles
29 Articles
On Friday 5 June, South Africa had the official launch of Lenacapavir, a revolutionary-categorized HIV treatment. With a single injection every six months, the preventive drug reaches an efficacy that is close to 100%. "A sign of hope", for President Cyril Ramaphosa, while more than one in ten South Africans is carrying HIV. For this launch, just under 40,000 doses were distributed in 360 clinics across the country.
South Africa rolls out game-changing HIV shot amid funding shortfalls
South Africa rolled out a new, biannual HIV prevention drug on Friday that has the potential to drastically cut infection rates, but U.S. aid cuts mean access will be limited.Lenacapavir, a kind of Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), is injected into the stomach every six months and is basically failproof at preventing high-risk individuals from contracting the virus.South Africa is not the first African country to introduce injectable Lenacapavir.…
How to use the anti-HIV jab — and where to find it – The Mail & Guardian
The six-monthly anti-HIV jab, which prevents HIV through sex, is now stocked for free at 360 government clinics in six of South Africa’s provinces. The provinces are Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, the Eastern Cape, Mpumalanga, North West and the Western Cape, according to the health department’s list of clinics. The Northern Cape, Limpopo and the Free State will get jabs next year, when cheaper generic versions of LEN become available and South Afric…
A powerful new HIV prevention tool arrives at a pivotal moment for SA
South Africa has begun rolling out lenacapavir, a twice-yearly injectable HIV prevention drug hailed as the most significant HIV prevention breakthrough in a generation. Experts say the new option could transform protection for people who struggle with daily medication, while expanding the country’s toolkit against new infections.
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