Kenyans at risk of HIV infection could soon access a revolutionary new prevention method—a twice-yearly injection—after a landmark global deal slashed the cost of lenacapavir from nearly Sh3.8 million ($28,000) a year to just Sh5,400 ($40).
The breakthrough, announced in New York by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Unitaid, will see two Indian pharmaceutical firms—Hetero and Dr Reddy’s Laboratories—manufacture generic versions of the drug.
“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.
The Gates Foundation has already invested $80 million to accelerate access, while Bill Gates pledged an additional $912 million to the Global Fund’s 2026–2028 campaign.
A Game-Changer in HIV Prevention
Lenacapavir, administered just twice a year, has been described as a game-changer in the fight against HIV. Clinical trials published in the New England Journal of Medicine showed the drug reduces new infections by 96–100%. Its long-acting nature makes it far more convenient than daily PrEP pills, which many struggle to take consistently due to pill fatigue, stigma, or irregular access to healthcare.
Before receiving the injection, patients take a short oral course of pills costing about $17, after which they switch to the injection every six months.
Kenya’s Readiness
Kenya has already developed a rollout framework. According to the National Syndemic Diseases Control Council (NSDCC), 20,105 new infections were recorded this year alone, adding to the country’s 1.4 million people already living with HIV.
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale confirmed that the branded version of lenacapavir will arrive in January 2026, with generic production expected to widen access even further.
“The Ministry of Health, through NASCOP and our partners, is actively working to ensure this innovative product is accessible by January 2026. We remain committed to equitable access, community engagement, and integrating lenacapavir into national policy to reach priority populations effectively,” Duale said.
Global Reactions
UNAIDS Executive Director Winnie Byanyima praised the new price point as a “leap forward” that could unlock the full potential of long-acting HIV medicines. However, she urged patent holder Gilead Sciences to broaden licensing agreements to ensure that no low- or middle-income country is excluded.
Currently, only 18% of people who could benefit from PrEP are actually using it. Experts believe that the wider rollout of lenacapavir could dramatically change that picture and put the world on track to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.
