US EditionSouth Africa’s health minister hails new HIV prevention jab but warns of limited supply
South Africa aims to prevent new HIV infections with lenacapavir, targeting 456,000 people in two years, funded by a $29.2 million Global Fund grant.
- On Tuesday, Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi announced South Africa will begin rolling out the twice-yearly jab lenacapavir in April next year and warned initial donated supply will be limited to nearly half a million people.
- Mathematical modelling suggests that if two to four million people use lenacapavir over 12 to 24 months, the South African government must buy millions of doses and create demand among HIV-negative people at high risk.
- Clinical data show lenacapavir trials had 100% protection for women and 96% for men who have sex with men, with $29.2 million Global Fund and $5 million NACOSA funding around 456,000 initiations.
- Motsoaledi warned demand will likely outstrip initial donated supply, urging prioritisation of vulnerable populations in high-burden districts after abrupt USAID and other U.S. government funders cuts; the U.S. announced a purchase of 2 million doses for low-income countries.
- The minister emphasised domestic financing, with WHO recommending the jab and Gilead licensing six pharmaceutical companies to produce generics at US$40 per person per annum until 2027, and `What revolutions are made of is reducing costs 700 times`, Motsoaledi said.
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South Africa to Roll Out Lenacapavir for HIV Prevention
[SAnews.gov.za] Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi revealed that South Africa intends to roll out lenacapavir, a revolutionary long-acting HIV prevention method that could transform public health as early as March 2026.
Associated Press News
South Africa's health minister hails new HIV prevention jab but warns of limited supply
South Africa's health minister has called lenacapavir, the first twice-yearly HIV prevention jab, a "groundbreaking" tool against the disease.
The six-monthly anti-HIV jab is coming. But can SA keep track of millions of users? – The Mail & Guardian
In April next year, South Africa plans to start rolling out an anti-HIV jab, taken only twice a year, that could end Aids in the country within 14 to 18 years — if enough people take it. The once-every-six-months shot, called lenacapavir (LEN), works 100% of the time to stop young women from getting HIV through sex. Of the about 400 people in South Africa who still get infected with HIV each day — 122 of them are teen girls and young women. T…
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