By SCM Correspondent I Tuesday, Nov.18.25
WASHINGTON – A revolutionary, twice-yearly injection that is more than 99% effective at preventing HIV has been delivered to Africa in a groundbreaking partnership championed by the United States government.
The new drug, lenacapavir, developed by American pharmaceutical giant Gilead Sciences, has reached patients in the high-burden countries of Eswatini and Zambia less than six months after receiving US approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
This unprecedented speed marks the first time a new HIV medicine has reached the African continent in the same year as its approval in the US.
The rapid rollout is part of the America First Global Health Strategy and a collaboration between the US Department of State (via the PEPFAR program), Gilead Sciences, and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria.
Jeremy Lewin, Senior Bureau Official for Foreign Assistance, hailed the moment, saying the Trump Administration “championed this medication.”
”Less than six months later we’re delivering the first doses in high-burden countries in Africa in the same year that it’s approved and delivered in the United States,” Mr. Lewin stated.
The initial delivery saw 500 doses sent to both Eswatini and Zambia, with injections for patients starting “from tomorrow,” according to Peter Sands, Executive Director of the Global Fund.
Hopes to End Mother-to-Child Transmission
The twice-yearly injection has been singled out as a potential silver bullet for preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV, a key goal for the Trump Administration.
Mr. Lewin explained the drug’s utility: “Twice yearly, with two shots, you can cover the period in which a woman is pregnant and breastfeeding, which is just a tremendous breakthrough.”
Gilead is providing the drug at no profit to the highest-burden countries, in a move praised by Mr. Lewin as a “tremendous breakthrough.”
Daniel O’Day, Chairman and CEO of Gilead Sciences, confirmed that the company is aiming to provide up to 2 million doses by early 2027, before generic manufacturers are expected to take over supply.
The US is also using the new initiative to pivot its aid strategy, moving away from relying on non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
Mr. Lewin confirmed that funding for the drug is coming from a new innovation fund set up within the broader PEPFAR budget.
”Investments like this, I mean, really innovative and high-impact commodities, are relatively cheap compared to all the overhead of having all these NGOs profiting off of the health care system,” he said, stressing that the new focus puts delivery back into the hands of national health care systems.
Gilead is now actively pursuing regulatory approval in 18 high-burden countries, including Kenya, Uganda, and Zimbabwe, with submissions expected by the end of 2025.
