Kenyans at risk of HIV infection will soon have access to a groundbreaking twice-yearly injectable medication at just Sh2,585 per dose, marking a significant breakthrough in the fight against the virus that has affected 1.38 million people in the country.
The revolutionary drug, lenacapavir, will be available through a partnership between the Gates Foundation and Indian pharmaceutical manufacturer Hetero Labs, which will produce a generic version of the original medication developed by Gilead Sciences.
The initiative targets 120 low- and middle-income countries, with large-scale production expected to begin in 2027.
At an annual cost of approximately Sh5,170 for two injections, the medication represents a dramatic shift from traditional daily oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) pills, offering a more convenient and potentially more effective prevention method for those struggling with daily medication adherence.
Dr Vamsi Krishna, managing director of Hetero Group of Companies, expressed the company’s commitment to the partnership, stating their dedication to ensuring access to innovative HIV medicines for patients in India and other low- and middle-income countries.
The long-acting injectable works as a capsid inhibitor, blocking the virus’s protective shell and preventing multiplication. This mechanism makes it particularly effective for both treating resistant HIV strains and serving as pre-exposure prophylaxis.
Kenya’s Ministry of Health had previously established an annual price cap of around Sh6,000 per person for HIV prevention medications. However, this new global partnership could significantly reduce costs, making protection accessible to a broader population at risk.
The medication addresses a critical challenge in Kenya’s HIV prevention efforts.
Despite recording over 544,000 oral PrEP initiations since its introduction, uptake remains disappointingly low, with adherence presenting ongoing difficulties.
Among adolescent girls and young women, one of the most vulnerable groups, PrEP uptake stands at merely 22 percent.
President Bill Clinton, board chair and co-founder of the Clinton Health Access Initiative, described the development as transformational, noting that protecting someone for six months with a single injection at the same cost as daily pills represents a historic breakthrough in HIV prevention.
Additional competition in the generic market is expected through partnerships between Unitaid, the Clinton Health Access Initiative, and Wits RHI with Dr Reddy’s Laboratories Ltd, another Indian manufacturer.
This increased competition could further drive down costs and improve availability.
The medication has received significant regulatory approval, with the US FDA approving lenacapavir for PrEP in June 2025, followed by World Health Organization recommendations in July and European Commission approval in August.
With Kenya’s adult HIV prevalence rate standing at 4.3 percent among individuals aged 15 to 49, the introduction of this long-acting injectable could transform prevention strategies, particularly for populations who have struggled with daily oral medication regimens.
Dr Philippe Duneton, Unitaid’s Executive Director, emphasized that securing the Sh5,170 annual price point directly addresses calls from countries and communities for lenacapavir to be as affordable as existing oral PrEP options, ensuring the most advanced prevention tools are accessible from the outset.
The development represents hope for Kenya’s ongoing battle against HIV, potentially offering a more practical and effective prevention method for the millions at risk while supporting the country’s broader public health objectives in combating the epidemic.
