STAT+: Unitaid will provide funds for South Africa and Zambia to widen access to Gilead’s HIV prevention drug

Back to news list

Source: STAT News

Original: https://www.statnews.com/pharmalot/2026/01/13/aids-hiv-gilead-unitaid-africa-len...

Published: Tue, 13 Jan 2026 11:00:00 +0000

Unitaid will provide funding to South Africa and Zambia to expand access to Gilead's HIV prevention drug, specifically the twice-yearly injectable lenacapavir as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP).[1][2] Lenacapavir has shown exceptional efficacy in clinical trials to prevent HIV infections and was recently approved in the US, with a WHO recommendation expected in July 2025.[1] In South Africa and Zambia, the drug has already been approved and the first shipments have arrived in Zambia and Eswatini, a milestone in the fight against HIV in sub-Saharan Africa.[2][8] Unitaid has invested US$22 million to accelerate access to lenacapavir, including initiatives in South Africa and Brazil targeting at-risk groups such as adolescent girls, young women, men who have sex with men and transgender people.[3] There are approximately 1.4 million people living with HIV in Zambia, with 30,000 new infections occurring annually.[10] The drug will be available for $40 a year in 120 low- and middle-income countries through generics from manufacturers such as Dr. Reddy's.[4][5] These efforts are complemented by partnerships with the Global Fund, PEPFAR and others to integrate lenacapavir into national programs and break transmission cycles.[1][6]