Thousands of Kenyans could soon benefit from a major medical breakthrough after US regulators approved a new long-acting injectable drug to prevent HIV infections.
On Wednesday, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) gave the green light to Lenacapavir, a drug developed by Gilead Sciences, which will be sold under the brand name Yeztugo. The injection is administered twice a year and is approved for use in adults and adolescents, offering a promising alternative to daily oral HIV prevention pills.
Lenacapavir belongs to a new class of HIV-fighting medication known as capsid inhibitors, which work by targeting the protective shell of the virus. In large-scale clinical trials conducted in 2023, the injectable drug showed nearly 100 per cent effectiveness in preventing HIV transmission, raising global hopes of turning the tide against the virus.
Kenya, which has the seventh-highest HIV burden globally, with around 1.4 million people living with the virus, is among the countries expected to benefit significantly once the drug is made available to low- and middle-income nations.
Health experts say the approval comes at a crucial time, as Kenya continues to make strides in HIV response. The country has surpassed the UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets, a global benchmark aiming to end the AIDS epidemic, and achieved a 28 per cent reduction in new infections over the past decade.
Initially, Gilead faced pressure from global health advocates and activists to widen access to Lenacapavir by licensing it to generic drug manufacturers. The pharmaceutical company eventually agreed and identified 18 countries, including Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa, for early access to the drug.
For individuals who have not responded well to other treatment regimens, Lenacapavir could be a vital lifeline. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that nearly 40 million people globally live with HIV, underscoring the urgent need for effective, affordable prevention options.
The announcement also comes amid lingering concerns over HIV drug shortages in Kenya, partly attributed to a temporary freeze on foreign aid imposed by US President Donald Trump in January. That decision disrupted access to life-saving antiretroviral drugs across parts of Africa, including Kenya.
Since the emergence of HIV/AIDS in the early 1980s, an estimated 40.4 million people worldwide have died from AIDS-related illnesses, according to USAID. The approval of Lenacapavir marks what many hope will be a turning point in the global fight against the disease.
