Johannesburg: Health Minister Dr. Aaron Motsoaledi revealed that South Africa intends to roll out lenacapavir, a long-acting HIV prevention method, potentially transforming public health as early as March 2026. The announcement was made during a national roundtable on lenacapavir access and sustainability, attended by key health stakeholders.
According to South African Government News Agency, the South African National AIDS Council (SANAC) and the Department of Health are holding a multi-stakeholder roundtable session to discuss the country’s preparedness for lenacapavir’s rollout. This injectable drug provides six months of protection with only two doses per year, addressing gaps in current HIV prevention methods.
At the national roundtable meeting, Motsoaledi emphasized the drug’s potential to fill critical gaps in existing prevention strategies. He stated, “Lenacapavir expands the choices within our combination prevention strategy,” thus highlighting its role in broadening prevention options for citizens.
The introduction of lenacapavir comes at a crucial time, with approximately 149,000 new HIV cases reported in 2022 and 2023. Clinical trials have demonstrated its efficacy, providing 100% protection for women and 96% for men who have sex with men and transgender women.
The Minister announced that the initial rollout will target 23 high-incidence districts across six provinces, reaching approximately 360 high-performing public clinics. The Global Fund has provided a US$29 million grant to support 456,000 initiations over two years, equating to 912,000 doses.
Dr. Motsoaledi stated that key target populations include pregnant and breastfeeding women, adolescent girls, female sex workers, and men who have sex with men. The World Health Organisation has recommended lenacapavir as an additional prevention choice, marking a milestone in global HIV prevention efforts.
The government plans to integrate lenacapavir into domestic financing mechanisms, aiming for routine funding after two years. Gilead and six pharmaceutical companies will produce the jab at US$40 per person annually, a drastic reduction from the original US$28,000 cost.
Pharmaceutical companies, in partnership with the Gates Foundation, will produce generic versions, while South Africa pursues local manufacturing capabilities. The Minister expressed gratitude to Gilead for issuing a voluntary license to facilitate this partnership.
Additionally, R2 billion in funding from the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has been announced to maintain current HIV and AIDS programs. The CDC is the national public health agency of the United States.
The Minister stressed the goal of reducing new HIV infections to below 0.1% by 2032. Mathematical modeling suggests that widespread use of lenacapavir could significantly reduce new infections, marking a turning point in South Africa’s battle against the epidemic.
The government has committed to a comprehensive approach involving community engagement, civil society participation, and sustainable financing mechanisms to support this initiative.