South Africa's health department has approved adding lenacapavir to its Essential Medicines List following regulatory clearance that made the nation the first on the continent to authorize this injectable HIV prevention treatment. The twice-yearly shot demonstrated exceptional efficacy in clinical trials, achieving complete protection among female participants and reducing infection risk by 96 percent in studies involving men and transgender individuals.
Authorities plan to begin distribution as early as March 2026, targeting a population where approximately 7.8 million people currently live with HIV. While the medication costs around R700,000 annually in wealthier markets, generic licensing agreements could reduce prices to approximately R700 per year in lower-income settings.
The inclusion supports efforts to address adherence challenges associated with daily oral prevention methods, particularly benefiting young women who experience disproportionately high infection rates. Implementation will require strengthening supply infrastructure and training healthcare workers to manage distribution effectively.
Authorities plan to begin distribution as early as March 2026, targeting a population where approximately 7.8 million people currently live with HIV. While the medication costs around R700,000 annually in wealthier markets, generic licensing agreements could reduce prices to approximately R700 per year in lower-income settings.
The inclusion supports efforts to address adherence challenges associated with daily oral prevention methods, particularly benefiting young women who experience disproportionately high infection rates. Implementation will require strengthening supply infrastructure and training healthcare workers to manage distribution effectively.
