Uganda’s National Drug Authority (NDA) has approved Lenacapavir, a long-acting HIV prevention injection developed by US pharmaceutical company Gilead Sciences, in a significant boost to the country’s fight against HIV/AIDS.
Announcing the decision, the NDA described the approval as a major step forward in HIV prevention. Lenacapavir is taken just twice a year and is used as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to protect HIV-negative people who are at high risk of infection.
Health experts say the injection could transform HIV prevention efforts by solving one of the biggest challenges with current PrEP options — daily pill use. Many people struggle to take oral PrEP consistently, reducing its effectiveness, while a twice-yearly injection offers a simpler and more reliable alternative.
The new option is also expected to be more discreet and convenient, which could encourage uptake among young people and other key populations who face a higher risk of HIV infection.
Public health specialists have welcomed the approval, noting that long-acting HIV prevention methods like Lenacapavir are essential to speeding up progress toward the global goal of ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030. For Uganda, the move strengthens national prevention efforts and brings renewed hope to millions vulnerable to HIV.
Dr Robert Mutumba, head of the AIDS Control Programme at the Ministry of Health, said Ugandans are expected to start accessing the drug free of charge after two months.
