By Kadijatu Bangura
Freetown, 19th November 2025 The United States government has announced a significant initiative aimed at combating the HIV epidemic in Africa through the rollout of a groundbreaking prevention drug, Lenacapavir. This announcement came following the delivery of the first doses to the Kingdom of Eswatini on Tuesday, in collaboration with the Global Fund and Gilead Sciences.
As part of the new America First Global Health Strategy, this partnership seeks to strengthen African health systems and establish sustainable, market-driven solutions. Lenacapavir, administered just twice a year as an injection, has demonstrated extraordinary efficacy in clinical trials, showing the potential to prevent nearly 100 percent of new HIV infections.
“Lenacapavir exemplifies American innovation in science and our leadership in HIV prevention,” stated Brad Smith, Senior Advisor at the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Global Health Security and Diplomacy. Gilead Sciences CEO Daniel O’Day confirmed that the drug will be provided at no profit to the countries most affected by HIV, emphasizing a commitment to swift access and partnership.
The U.S. Department of State, in conjunction with PEPFAR-funded programs and the Global Fund, plans to procure over two million doses of Lenacapavir over time. Based on rising demand from Africa, the U.S. has increased its order from an initial 250,000 doses to 325,000 for the first year of the program in 2026. Combined with the Global Fund’s commitment, all 600,000 doses available for 2026 have been earmarked for this initiative.
Peter Sands, Executive Director of the Global Fund, noted the crucial role of timely deployment in maximizing the impact of innovation. “Access to life-saving technology must occur both at scale and at speed,” he stated.
The rollout begins in Eswatini, a nation historically impacted by HIV, where 98 percent of individuals living with the virus are already receiving treatment. The new program aims to support over 6,000 individuals at high risk of HIV, with particular emphasis on eliminating the transmission of the virus from mothers to their newborns.
Collaborating closely with the Eswatini government, the U.S. Government and the Global Fund are leveraging existing PEPFAR-supported supply chains to facilitate efficient distribution.
Looking ahead, Gilead has licensed its technology to six generic manufacturers, with expectations that these suppliers will enter the market as early as 2027. This move is anticipated to significantly reduce costs and ensure long-term sustainability in HIV prevention efforts across the continent.
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