Maseru, July 27 — Lesotho has been named one of the first nine countries in the world to receive access to lenacapavir (LEN), a ground breaking long-acting injectable for HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). The development was announced by the Global Fund following a landmark agreement with pharmaceutical company Gilead Sciences to supply the drug at no profit to low- and middle-income countries.
According to Global Fund, LEN is the first injectable HIV prevention option that requires just two doses annually, offering a discreet, convenient alternative to daily oral PrEP. In recent clinical trials, LEN demonstrated nearly 100% effectiveness, with zero HIV infections reported among women in high-incidence regions who received the drug.
The Global Fund is expected to dispatch the first shipments to Lesotho before the end of 2025, with the national rollout anticipated to begin in early 2026. Lesotho’s Ministry of Health is currently working on regulatory clearance, supply chain planning, and budget alignment in preparation for the rollout.
International development partners including the World Health Organization (WHO), UNAIDS, and PEPFAR have pledged technical support to ensure Lesotho’s successful implementation of LEN.
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