Millions of people across Africa and other low and middle-income countries, including Kenya, are set to access a powerful new HIV prevention option following a groundbreaking deal that will slash treatment costs.
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has partnered with Indian pharmaceutical company Hetero Labs to manufacture a generic version of lenacapavir, the world’s first twice-yearly injectable pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). Once approved, the drug will cost as little as $40 (Ksh5,100) per patient per year.
“Hetero is pleased to partner with the Gates Foundation to create a pathway for the sustainable and affordable supply of lenacapavir,” said Dr. Vamsi Krishna, managing director of Hetero Group of Companies.
Approved this year by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Commission, lenacapavir provides six months of HIV protection from a single injection. Experts say it could transform HIV prevention for people who struggle with daily oral PrEP due to stigma, adherence challenges, or limited access to medication.
Kenya reported more than 22,000 new HIV infections in 2023, according to UNAIDS, with young women disproportionately affected. Public health experts believe lenacapavir could be a game-changer in high-burden counties such as Homa Bay, Kisumu, and Siaya.
“Scientific advances like lenacapavir can help us end the HIV epidemic—if they are made accessible to people who can benefit from them the most,” said Trevor Mundel, president of global health at the Gates Foundation.
In a parallel effort, Unitaid, the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), and Wits RHI have partnered with another Indian manufacturer, Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories Ltd., to further strengthen a competitive generics market and secure reliable supply.
The first doses of lenacapavir are expected to reach low- and middle-income countries by the end of 2025, while full generic production could be available by 2027, pending regulatory approval.
Kate Hampton, CEO of the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF), hailed the move as “a major step forward in ending the HIV epidemic,” noting that CIFF and others have invested in the entire supply chain to ensure affordability and access.
The Gates Foundation has already invested more than $80 million to prepare the market for lenacapavir and is backing regulatory and delivery systems to speed up access. Earlier this week, Bill Gates pledged $912 million to the Global Fund’s 2026–2028 campaign, which aims to save 23 million lives from HIV, malaria, and tuberculosis.
Globally, 1.3 million people were newly infected with HIV in 2024, while only 18% of those eligible for PrEP currently receive it. Studies suggest that scaling up lenacapavir to just 4% of populations in high-burden countries could prevent up to 20% of new infections.
For Kenya, where HIV/AIDS remains the leading cause of adult deaths and more than 1.3 million people live with the virus, the new injection offers hope. If effectively rolled out through the national health system, experts say it could ease the burden on families—especially in rural communities where healthcare access and daily medication remain a struggle.
