Exciting news! The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved an injectable drug for HIV prevention called Lenacapavir (LEN) as Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis. The drug needs to be injected just twice a year for the HIV Negative at-risk population groups. The approval means the drug could be rolled out globally to help overcome barriers such as taking pills daily, frequent clinic visits, and the stigma associated with HIV prevention, according to the FDA. Reacting to this, The Malawi National AIDS Commission (NAC) Chief Executive Officer Dr. Beatrice Matanje said the approval is timely for Malawi, as it will address issues of default which has been noticed from oral PrEP clients. While welcoming the news, Dr. Matanje has appealed for people to continue adhering to the available HIV preventive measures until the new drug is locally available and affordable. “We are excited as the commission that Lenacapavir drug has been approved, the only worry is that the price is a bit restrictive in that most people in developing countries including Malawians cannot afford”, said Dr. Matanje. In this regard, the National Aids Commission has joined hands with other global advocates appealing for a reduction in the price of the injectable drug to ensure it is accessible to all countries once it is rolled out. Developed by Gilead Sciences, LEN presence is an option that showed nearly complete protection against HIV. The approval of LEN is a much-needed boost for HIV prevention, given the strength of science and the simultaneous disruption in HIV programs globally. The World Health Organization (WHO) is expecting to provide its guidelines for Lenacapavir during the International AIDS Conference in Kigali, Rwanda, next month.
