Global Fund expands access to HIV prevention drug lenacapavir

The Global Fund and the U.S. are expanding supply of Gilead’s HIV prevention drug lenacapavir with a goal of reaching 3 million people by 2028; initial deliveries have reached nine African countries and the program will extend to 12 more countries.

The Global Fund and the U.S. are stepping up efforts to broaden access to Gilead’s HIV prevention drug, lenacapavir. The initiative sets a goal of reaching 3 million people by 2028. Initial deliveries of the drug have reached nine African countries. The program will extend provision to 12 additional countries, including the Dominican Republic, Fiji, Indonesia, Morocco, Rwanda and Thailand. Known details: - Lenacapavir is administered as a subcutaneous injection twice a year, offering an alternative to daily oral PrEP. - In July 2025, the Global Fund and Gilead finalized plans to supply lenacapavir to low-income countries, agreeing initially to provide doses for up to 2 million people over three years. - Early program data indicates uptake has been particularly strong among priority groups such as pregnant and breastfeeding women, adolescent girls and young women, and people accessing prevention drugs for the first time. - Gilead has granted voluntary licenses to several manufacturers to allow production of generic versions, which the Global Fund says should help expand and lower the cost of supply. - Hui Yang, head of supply operations at the Global Fund, said the organization is expanding its supplier base through original and generic manufacturers to work toward sustainable, affordable access at scale. Summary: The expansion aims to increase availability of a long-acting prevention option in low- and middle-income settings and to reach more people who may benefit from alternatives to daily pills. Next steps include rolling deliveries to the 12 additional countries and continuing to scale the supplier base as the program works toward the 3 million people target by 2028.