Starting in 2027, a groundbreaking HIV prevention injection, Lenacapavir, will be available in Kenya for low-income populations at just Sh2,585 per shot, offering a lifeline in the fight against HIV/AIDS. This twice-yearly injectable, developed by Gilead Sciences under the brand name Yeztugo, has shown near 100% effectiveness in preventing HIV transmission in clinical trials.
The low-cost initiative, announced on September 24, 2025, stems from a partnership between the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Indian pharmaceutical company Hetero Labs, aiming to make this game-changing drug accessible to high-burden, resource-limited communities.
The agreement is part of a broader effort to curb the global HIV epidemic, which saw 1.3 million new infections in 2024, according to UNAIDS. In Kenya, where HIV prevalence remains a public health challenge, particularly among young women and marginalised groups, lenacapavir’s affordability is a major breakthrough.
Priced at approximately $40 annually (Sh5,180), the generic version matches the cost of daily oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), making it a practical alternative for those facing adherence challenges due to stigma or logistics.
Hetero Labs, alongside Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories, secured royalty-free licenses from Gilead in October 2024 to produce Lenacapavir for 120 low- and middle-income countries.
The Gates Foundation’s collaboration with Hetero includes funding and volume guarantees to ensure a sustainable supply, while Unitaid and the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) support Dr Reddy’s efforts.
These partnerships aim to deliver generic lenacapavir by 2027, pending regulatory approvals, slashing the $28,000 U.S. price tag for Yeztugo. “This is a game-changer for Kenya,” said Dr Nduku Kilonzo, head of Kenya’s National AIDS Control Council, emphasising the injection’s potential to reduce new infections.
Studies suggest that scaling lenacapavir to just 4% of high-risk populations could prevent up to 20% of new HIV cases. The drug’s twice-yearly dosing addresses barriers like daily pill adherence, offering discretion and convenience, especially for vulnerable groups. Despite the optimism, challenges remain.
The 2027 rollout delays immediate access, and some high-incidence countries are excluded from the initial 120-nation agreement. Global health advocates, including Wits RHI’s Professor Saiqa Mullick, stress the need for expanded access and sustained funding amid U.S. aid cuts under the Trump administration.
Kenya’s health ministry welcomed the initiative, pledging to integrate lenacapavir into national HIV programmes to ensure equitable distribution by 2027.