The United States has begun delivering the first doses of lenacapavir an innovative, twice-yearly HIV prevention drug developed by American company Gilead Sciences to Eswatini and Zambia, marking a major milestone in global HIV control efforts.
The rollout, part of a PEPFAR-led initiative to accelerate access to breakthrough prevention tools in high-burden countries, follows a landmark partnership with Gilead Sciences and the Global Fund announced just months after the drug’s FDA approval.
U.S. officials say the early deliveries signal rapid progress toward meeting the commitment of more than two million doses by 2028, positioning lenacapavir as a potentially transformative tool in reducing new infections, particularly among pregnant and breastfeeding mothers.
By Victoria Kayeye Yambani
