Breakthrough in Science as US sends HIV prevention drugs to Africa

The United States has delivered a new HIV prevention drug called Lenacapavir to Eswatini and Zambia, even though President Donald Trump recently made major cuts to global health aid.

Lenacapavir is an injectable medicine that only needs to be taken twice a year, making it easier to use than daily HIV pills. Experts say it could greatly reduce new HIV infections, especially for pregnant and breastfeeding women.

According to the Global Fund’s executive director, Peter Sands, about 1,000 doses have already arrived in the two countries and will start being given this week.

The US government plans to fund two million doses for low- and middle-income African countries by 2028, with a possibility of reaching the goal earlier in 2027.

The drug is produced by Gilead Sciences, a US pharmaceutical company. The company is also working to get approval for distribution in Botswana, Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda, Namibia, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe.

Daniel O’Day, Gilead’s chairman and CEO, said this is a historic moment because it is the first time a medication is being used in Africa the same year it was approved in the United States.

However, the rollout comes at a time when the US government has sharply reduced funding for long-standing HIV prevention programs, including PrEP. Researchers warn that global aid cuts by the US and Europe could lead to 22.6 million preventable deaths by 2030.

Since 2010, global efforts have lowered new HIV infections by 40 percent, but UNAIDS still projects 1.3 million new infections for 2024.