Africa unveils groundbreaking HIV prevention shot with 99.9% efficacy
South Africa, Eswatini, and Zambia were set to begin the administration of an innovative new injection for HIV prevention on Monday.
This represents the drug’s inaugural public implementation in Africa, the continent with the highest number of HIV cases globally.
The injection, called Lenacapavir, is given just twice annually. It has been scientifically demonstrated to lower the risk of HIV transmission by over 99.9 percent, effectively functioning like a potent vaccine.
In South Africa, home to about one in five adults living with HIV, a research unit at Wits University has taken the lead in managing the rollout. This initiative is part of a program supported by Unitaid, a health agency of the United Nations.
Unitaid released a statement announcing, “The first individuals have started using Lenacapavir for HIV prevention in South Africa… marking it as one of the first real-world implementations of the six-month injectable in low- and middle-income nations.”
The agency did not disclose the specific number of individuals who received the first doses of the drug. In the United States, the yearly price of the drug is $28,000 per person. A more extensive national rollout in South Africa is expected to occur next year.
Nearby countries, Zambia and Eswatini, received 1,000 doses last month as part of a U.S. program. They were anticipated to officially introduce the drug at events celebrating World AIDS Day on Monday.
According to the program's terms, the manufacturer, Gilead Sciences, has committed to supplying Lenacapavir at no profit to two million individuals in nations with a high HIV prevalence over three years.
Critics of the existing arrangement argue that this commitment falls significantly short of what is actually needed to tackle the epidemic. They also highlight that the current market price is unaffordable for most individuals.
As per the 2024 UNAIDS data, the Eastern and southern African region accounts for roughly 52 percent of the 40.8 million people living with HIV worldwide.
Generic versions of Lenacapavir are expected to be available beginning in 2027, with a projected cost of around $40 per year in more than 100 countries. This anticipated lower price is due to partnerships between Unitaid and the Gates Foundation with various Indian pharmaceutical firms.
Pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP, has been utilized for over ten years as a strategy to prevent HIV. However, its dependence on a daily pill has been identified as a limiting factor in its overall effectiveness in reducing global infection rates.
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