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Kenya is set to receive Lenacapavir, a groundbreaking HIV preventive drug that will be administered as an injection just twice a year.
This makes it the first long-acting injectable form of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), offering an alternative to the daily oral pills currently used for HIV prevention.
"The Ministry of Health through the Division of National AIDS and STI Control Programme (NASCOP), in collaboration with various partners is working to ensure avaiability of the innovative product for Kenyans by January 2026," NASCOP has announced.
Clinical data shows the drug has up to 99 percent efficacy in preventing HIV transmission.
“Lenacapavir is highly effective and long-lasting," added NASCOP.
The injection is administered under the skin in the abdominal area (stomach) by a healthcare provider and is designed to be discreet, convenient, and stigma-free.
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Kenya is expected to receive the drug with procurement supported by the Global Fund and other partners.
The rollout will be coordinated by the Ministry of Health through NASCOP, in collaboration with partner organisations.
“This is a major milestone in our efforts to end HIV/AIDS by 2030,” NASCOP noted.
The official launch of Lenacapavir was announced following an agreement signed between the Global Fund and Gilead Sciences.
Alongside Kenya, other high HIV burden countries set to benefit from the new injectable PrEP include Botswana, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
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