Kenyans at risk of HIV could soon protect themselves with a twice-yearly injection that slashes the chances of infection, following a landmark deal that brings down the cost of the medicine to just Sh5,400 ($40) a year.
The injection, known as lenacapavir, has been hailed as a game-changer in the global fight against HIV.
Currently priced at $28,000 (Sh3.8 million) annually in the United States, the new agreement will see two Indian pharmaceutical firms—Hetero and Dr Reddy’s Laboratories—produce a generic version at a fraction of the cost.
The deal, announced in New York on Wednesday by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Unitaid, is designed to speed up access to the drug in low- and middle-income countries like Kenya.
“Scientific advances like lenacapavir can help us end the HIV epidemic—if they are made accessible to people who can benefit from them the most,” said Trevor Mundel, president of global health at the Gates Foundation.
Lenacapavir is administered as an injection once every six months, offering an alternative to daily pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) pills.
Trials published in the New England Journal of Medicine showed it reduced new HIV infections by between 96% and 100%.
For many, the convenience is as critical as the science. The twice-yearly dose is expected to benefit people who struggle with pill fatigue, stigma, or difficulty accessing health facilities regularly.
The drug requires an initial short course of oral pills before the first shot, costing no more than $17.
Kenya has already developed an implementation plan for lenacapavir. The National Syndemic Diseases Control Council estimates that 20,105 Kenyans have contracted HIV this year alone, adding to the 1.4 million already living with the virus.
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale announced in July that the country would introduce the branded version of lenacapavir in January 2026, supported by the Global Fund. The arrival of generics is now expected to dramatically expand access.
“The Ministry of Health, through Nascop and our partners, is actively working to ensure this innovative product is accessible by January 2026. We remain committed to equitable access, community engagement, and integrating lenacapavir into national policy to reach priority populations effectively,” Duale said.
The Gates Foundation has already invested more than $80 million in accelerating the rollout of lenacapavir.
Earlier this week, Bill Gates pledged a further $912 million to the Global Fund’s 2026–2028 campaign, which aims to save 23 million lives from HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria.
UNAIDS Executive Director Winnie Byanyima welcomed the breakthrough, calling the $40 price point “a leap forward that will help to unlock the revolutionary potential of long-acting HIV medicines.”
She urged drugmaker Gilead Sciences—the original patent holder of lenacapavir—to expand its licensing agreements to ensure no low- or middle-income country is left out.
UNAIDS estimates that only 18% of people who could benefit from PrEP currently use it. Widening access to long-acting prevention, experts say, could change that picture dramatically.
“If 20 million people at the highest risk—such as young women, sex workers, and men who have sex with men—gain access to lenacapavir, the world could make huge progress toward ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030,” UNAIDS said.
