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Patients in Kenya to get HIV protection injection for Sh5,000
Lenacapavir for PrEP was approved by the US FDA in June, followed by a global recommendation from the World Health Organization in July and approval from the European Commission in August.
Millions of people at risk of HIV in 120 low- and middle-income countries, including Kenya, will have access to lenacapavir at $40 (approximately Sh5,170) per person per year, starting in 2027.
This follows a partnership between the Gates Foundation and the Indian pharmaceutical company Hetero Labs, which will manufacture a generic version of the original drug produced by Gilead Sciences.
The goal is to improve accessibility to the world’s first twice-yearly injectable pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP).
While the branded version costs thousands of dollars annually in high-income markets, the generic version will be manufactured for just $20 (Sh2,585) per injection following a brief pre-treatment oral regimen.
“We are pleased to be partnering with the Gates Foundation to establish a sustainable and affordable supply of lenacapavir,” said Dr Vamsi Krishna, managing director of Hetero Group of Companies.
“This collaboration reflects our commitment to ensuring access to innovative HIV medicines for patients in India and other low- and middle-income countries.”
Lenacapavir is a long-acting HIV medication known as a capsid inhibitor. It works by blocking the virus's protective shell, thereby preventing it from multiplying.
A key advantage of lenacapavir is that it only needs to be injected twice a year, making it effective for treating resistant HIV and for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP).
In Kenya, the Ministry of Health had previously set an annual price cap of around Sh6,000 per person. However, this new global partnership could alter local pricing structures, making the drug more affordable and accessible to more people at risk.
The long-acting injectable could transform HIV prevention for patients who struggle to adhere to the daily oral PrEP regimen. Additionally, aligning its price with oral PrEP is crucial for boosting uptake in low- and middle-income countries.
In a separate announcement, Unitaid, the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), and Wits RHI revealed new partnerships with Dr Reddy's Laboratories Ltd. (DRL), another Indian manufacturer.
Their involvement is expected to increase competition in the generics market. Pending regulatory approval, large-scale production of lenacapavir is anticipated for 2027, which would greatly increase availability.
“The ability to protect someone for six months with a single injection at the same cost as the daily pills currently available is truly transformational,” said President Bill Clinton, the Board chair and co-founder of CHAI.
“Securing a price of $40 for the twice-yearly lenacapavir injection for PrEP is a historic breakthrough that shows the most advanced tools can be made affordable from the outset.
This directly addresses the call from countries and communities for lenacapavir to be as affordable as oral PrEP,” added Unitaid’s Executive Director, Dr Philippe Duneton.
Lenacapavir for PrEP was approved by the US FDA in June, followed by a global recommendation from the World Health Organization in July and approval from the European Commission in August.
In Kenya, approximately 1.38 million people are living with HIV, with an adult prevalence rate of 4.3 per cent among individuals aged 15 to 49.
Since the introduction of oral PrEP, the country has recorded over 544,000 initiations, but uptake remains low and adherence is a significant challenge.
Among adolescent girls and young women, which is one of the most at-risk groups, PrEP uptake is estimated at only 22 per cent.
