Kenya is set to be one of the first nine African countries to benefit from a new, long-acting HIV prevention drug known as lenacapavir, following a recent agreement between the Global Fund and Gilead Sciences, a U.S.-based pharmaceutical company.
This move is a major step forward in the fight against HIV/AIDS, especially for low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). According to Kenya’s National AIDS and STI Control Program, the drug is expected to arrive in the country by January 2026.
Health officials believe this new medication will significantly support the country’s ongoing efforts to eliminate HIV/AIDS by 2030, a goal Kenya has been working towards for years.
The Global Fund announced on Monday, July 9, that it had signed a deal with Gilead Sciences, which will allow more than 120 low- and middle-income countries to access lenacapavir.
This is a historic milestone because, for the first time, a breakthrough HIV prevention drug will be made available to poorer countries at the same time it is launched in wealthier, high-income nations.
The other African countries set to receive the drug by early next year include Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Nigeria, South Africa, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. The drug was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in June 2025 and is taken twice a year as an injection, offering a more effective and affordable alternative to daily oral PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis) pills that many people currently use.
The Global Fund says it hopes to distribute lenacapavir to at least 2 million people worldwide, with a strong focus on sub-Saharan Africa, a region that continues to suffer the most from the HIV epidemic.
In fact, the World Health Organization (WHO) reports that this region has the highest HIV burden globally, with 1 in every 30 adults (3.4%) living with HIV, accounting for more than two-thirds of the global total.
In a public statement, the Global Fund said, “The FDA’s approval of lenacapavir is one of the most significant advancements in HIV prevention in decades. It marks a turning point in our response to this epidemic.”
As the first long-acting injectable PrEP drug to be administered only twice per year, lenacapavir brings hope to individuals who struggle with taking daily pills, face social stigma, or have limited access to consistent healthcare.
It broadens the range of prevention options available and is expected to reach many who were previously left out of HIV prevention programs.
Clinical trials carried out last year showed lenacapavir was nearly 100% effective in preventing the transmission of HIV. It belongs to a new group of antiretroviral medicines known as capsid inhibitors, which work differently from traditional HIV drugs by targeting the protective shell of the virus.
Kenya currently has 1.378 million people living with HIV, according to the Kenya Demographic and Health Survey (KDHS) 2022. The availability of this advanced drug provides a renewed sense of hope in the ongoing efforts to reduce new infections and eventually eliminate the disease.
The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, commonly referred to as the Global Fund, is a global partnership that mobilizes financial support and resources to fight the world’s deadliest diseases, especially in the countries hit hardest by these epidemics.
While celebrating the lenacapavir milestone, the organization emphasized that it would continue to promote a combination of prevention strategies, including condoms, oral PrEP, and voluntary medical male circumcision to ensure a more comprehensive approach in tackling HIV/AIDS.
Speaking on the importance of the new drug, Peter Sands, Executive Director of the Global Fund, said: “This is more than just a scientific achievement—it’s a real breakthrough. For the first time, we have a prevention tool that can truly transform the path of the HIV epidemic. But it will only make a difference if we succeed in getting it into the hands of those who need it most.”
This new chapter in HIV prevention marks a major stride toward equality in healthcare access and could pave the way for a future free from the burden of HIV/AIDS, especially in Africa where the disease has had a devastating impact for decades.
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