Tag: Lenacapavir

Zimbabwe’s Medicines Regulatory Body Registers Lencapavir

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa The Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ) has announced the expedited approval of Lenacapavir, an innovative long-acting medicine for pre exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to prevent HIV-1 infection. The MCAZ Director-General, Mr. Richard T. Rukwata, said “the rapid approval of Lenacapavir reflects the Authority’s dedication to accelerating access to trusted, high-quality health products and brings new hope for HIV prevention while reinforcing its commitment to safeguarding public health.” Lenacapavir was assessed and approved by the Registration Committee under the expedited review process, as it is considered to be…

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High Demand Pushes America to Increase Lenacapavir Supply as Eswatini Gets First Shipment

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa The Kingdom of Eswatini has received its first shipment of the lifesaving HIV prevention drug Lenacapavir, a few months after becoming one of the few  African countries earmarked for the rollout to take delivery. The twice-a-year injectable drug will be introduced under the America First Global Health Strategy, which guides the United States’ global health programming across the continent. Launched in September, the America First Global Health Strategy aims to shift the United States’ global health efforts toward strengthening African health systems and building market-driven partnerships. Under…

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Zimbabwe Selected Among Ten Countries to Roll Out Breakthrough HIV Prevention Drug, Lenacapavir

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa  Zimbabwe has been selected as one of ten countries globally to roll out lenacapavir, a revolutionary new HIV prevention drug that is being hailed as a game-changer in the global fight against HIV. The announcement was made on the official U.S. Embassy Zimbabwe Facebook page, marking a historic milestone in the country’s decades-long battle to curb new HIV infections. Lenacapavir, developed by U.S.-based Gilead Sciences in partnership with the Global Fund, is the world’s first twice-yearly HIV prevention medicine. Clinical trial data shows that more than 99%…

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UNAIDS Welcomes US Move to Expand HIV Prevention Access

Michael Gwarisa

By Staff Reporter  UNAIDS welcomes the announcement by the US State Department that the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) will be supporting an initiative by the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria to provide lenacapavir to up to 2 million people in countries with high burdens of HIV. Lenacapavir, an American-based innovation, is one of the most promising new HIV prevention tools that has emerged in the HIV response, offering protection against HIV with just twice-yearly injections. The breakthrough medicine will save thousands of lives if…

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Zimbabwe to Implement New WHO HIV Guidelines

Michael Gwarisa

By Shamiso Yikoniko in Kigali, Rwanda The World Health Organization (WHO) has released updated HIV prevention, treatment, and care guidelines during the 13th International AIDS Society (IAS) Conference on HIV Science in Kigali, Rwanda, offering renewed hope in the global fight against HIV. Zimbabwe, home to an estimated 1.3 million people living with HIV, is expected to benefit from these new tools to bolster its already robust response to the epidemic. The revised guidelines introduce key innovations designed to simplify care, expand prevention options, and improve patient outcomes. Among the…

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WHO Recommends Twice-Yearly Injectable Lenacapavir as Game-Changer in HIV Prevention

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa In a landmark move that could transform the global fight against HIV, the World Health Organization (WHO) today issued new guidelines endorsing the use of injectable lenacapavir (LEN) administered twice a year as an additional pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) option. The announcement was made at the 13th International AIDS Society Conference (IAS 2025) on HIV Science, currently underway in Kigali, Rwanda. LEN is the first long-acting injectable PrEP designed to protect people at risk of HIV with just two doses annually, offering a highly effective alternative to daily…

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Gilead’s Secrecy Over HIV Prevention Shot Sparks Global Outrage

Michael Gwarisa

By Staff Reporter  Gilead Sciences has come under fire after announcing a secretive deal to supply its long-acting injectable HIV prevention drug, lenacapavir (LEN-LA), to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. The agreement—shrouded in indefinite price secrecy—has been widely condemned by civil society organisations, health advocates, and global health experts who warn it undermines transparency, accountability, and equitable access. The Global Fund, financed by public money, has invited nine African countries—South Africa, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Kenya, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Nigeria—to participate in the agreement. However, the…

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“I’ll Fix It”: Elon Musk Responds to Outcry Over Lenacapavir Funding Halt

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa Billionaire Elon Musk, who also serves as an advisor to United States President Donald Trump, has hinted at intervening in the ongoing funding crisis affecting global HIV programs—particularly the rollout of Lenacapavir, a groundbreaking once-a-year HIV prevention drug. Musk made the remarks during a conversation with Bloomberg’s Mitchell Hussein at the Qatar Economic Forum. Hussein raised concerns about the global impact of HIV and AIDS funding cuts, especially the exclusion of critical HIV prevention programs like Lenacapavir from the current U.S. government funding waiver. The AIDS medication…

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Zim among top priority lenacapavir recipients as Gilead licenses Hetero

Kuda Pembere

By Kuda Pembere With Zimbabwe being among the 18 top-priority recipients of lenacapavir an HIV preventive drug pending local medicines regulatory approvals, Gilead Sciences, the principal maker has granted a non-exclusive license to leading India headquartered pharmaceutical manufacturer Hetero Group of Companies to manufacture and supply the drug. Gilead’s decision comes following much advocacy by AVAC to give non-exclusive licenses for the manufacturing of lenapavir. The partnership will broaden access to this novel HIV treatment usable in combination with other antiretrovirals while supporting efforts to prevent HIV through pre-exposure prophylaxis…

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