Global efforts to combat HIV have received a boost as the World Health Organization backs the rollout of a new six-month prevention drug across nine African countries.
The WHO says the long-acting medicine, known as lenacapavir, is designed for people at high risk of HIV infection and is administered once every six months. The organisation described the development as a major step forward in global prevention efforts.
WHO Director-General, Tedros Ghebreyesus, announced the update during a virtual media briefing focused on global health priorities, including HIV prevention, cervical cancer elimination, and advances in obesity treatment.
He said HIV, once considered a fatal disease, can now be effectively managed with safe and reliable treatment, enabling millions of people living with the virus to live longer and healthier lives. Over the past two decades, AIDS-related deaths worldwide have declined significantly.
Ghebreyesus explained that medicines initially developed for treatment are increasingly being used as preventive tools to protect vulnerable individuals before exposure to the virus. He described the approval of lenacapavir for HIV prevention in 2025 as a landmark achievement in efforts to end the epidemic.
Unlike a vaccine, lenacapavir is a long-acting antiretroviral drug given to HIV-negative individuals at risk. Clinical trials have shown it can prevent nearly all infections among high-risk populations, making it one of the most promising prevention options available.
The WHO issued official guidelines on its use in July 2025 and granted product prequalification in October, enabling international donors to procure and distribute the medicine more widely. The organisation said this approach helped accelerate access to the innovation.
In recent months, WHO has supported its introduction in Eswatini, Kenya, Lesotho, Mozambique, Nigeria, South Africa, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. South Africa has also announced plans for local manufacturing to expand supply and improve regional access.
However, the WHO warned that global demand currently exceeds supply, with orders from countries falling short of needs. It said it is working with governments, donors, and manufacturers to scale up production and ensure equitable distribution of the drug.
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