The U.S. government has announced a commitment to purchase the HIV prevention drug lenacapavir from Gilead Sciences, with plans for distribution through the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) in 8 to 12 countries with high rates of HIV in 2026. Lenacapavir is an injectable medication that only needs to be administered twice a year.
According to clinical trial data, more than 99% of participants who used lenacapavir remained HIV negative. The drug’s twice-yearly dosing is expected to make it easier for individuals to adhere to treatment schedules and reduce clinic visits, which may also lower delivery costs.
The U.S. government and the Global Fund are jointly funding this initiative, aiming to provide lenacapavir for up to two million people by 2028. Gilead Sciences has agreed to supply the drug at cost and will allow generic manufacturers access to its intellectual property so they can produce it on a larger scale, which could help lower prices further and enable local governments to sustain future purchases.
Distribution efforts will prioritize countries based on their HIV burden and existing infrastructure for delivering medical treatments. PEPFAR will work with these countries over the coming months on rollout plans, focusing particularly on pregnant and breastfeeding mothers.
"With lenacapavir, PEPFAR is seeking to meaningfully reduce the number of new HIV infections, especially in pregnant and breastfeeding mothers."
