600,000 Set For Breakthrough HIV Prevention Injection
Princess-Ekwi Ajide
The fight against HIV is entering a new phase where the biggest obstacle is no longer scientific discovery, but ensuring life-saving innovations reach the people who need them most.
An estimated 600,000 people worldwide are expected to be receiving the twice-yearly HIV prevention injection, lenacapavir, by the end of 2026, with the figure projected to exceed one million early next year, according to experts at the 26th International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2026).
Speaking during an industry media briefing, Dr Jared Baeten of Gilead Sciences said the rollout is being accelerated through partnerships with the Global Fund and PEPFAR, with lenacapavir already available in 10 African countries and expected to expand to 24 countries before the end of the year.
Conference leaders, however, warned that the breakthrough will only succeed if countries overcome funding gaps and implementation challenges.
International AIDS Society President, Prof. Beatriz Grinsztejn, stressed that “innovation without access is not innovation; it is injustice.”
Echoing the call, Nigeria’s HIV prevention advocate and Root to Rise Project Lead, Adaobi Lisa Olisa, said community engagement would determine whether the long-acting injection reaches those most at risk.
Lenacapavir, which requires only two injections a year to prevent HIV infection, is widely regarded as one of the most significant advances in HIV prevention since the introduction of oral PrEP.
Experts say its success will ultimately depend on sustained political commitment, financing and community-led demand.
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