Millions of people in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are set to benefit from a major advance in HIV prevention.

A powerful, twice-yearly injectable drug, known as lenacapavir, will soon be available at a dramatically reduced price.

The announcement was made in New York on 24th September 2025.

The breakthrough is an injectable medicine for Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP). It is designed to prevent HIV infection.

Public health experts view this as a potential "game-changer" in the global fight against the epidemic.

Price Slashed by Partnership

The Gates Foundation has teamed up with the Indian drug manufacturer Hetero Labs. This partnership aims to make a generic version of lenacapavir widely accessible and affordable.

The generic version will be manufactured at roughly $40 per patient per year. This low price is intended to make the treatment sustainable for national health systems. This cost aligns closely with the price approximation of around Ksh 5,000.

The Gates Foundation is supporting this effort with upfront funding and volume guarantees. They have invested more than $80 million to speed up market readiness and accelerate the timeline for generic production.

Dr. Vamsi Krishna, Managing Director of Hetero Group of Companies, welcomed the collaboration.

“Hetero is pleased to partner with the Gates Foundation to create a pathway for the sustainable and affordable supply of lenacapavir,”.

Six Months of Protection

Lenacapavir offers a major advantage over existing treatments. Current HIV prevention often requires people to take daily pills consistently. This can be difficult due to factors like stigma or adherence challenges.

With lenacapavir, a single injection provides six months of protection. This makes it much easier for people who struggle with daily medication regimes.

The drug was approved by the U.S. FDA in June. The European Commission gave its approval in August.

A Critical Need for Access

Despite progress, the HIV epidemic continues to affect millions globally. In 2024, 1.3 million people acquired HIV.

Alarmingly, only 18% of people who could benefit from preventative PrEP drugs currently have access to them.

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Scaling up this new treatment could have a huge impact. Modelling shows that providing affordable lenacapavir to just 4% of the population in high-burden countries could prevent up to 20% of new infections.

Rollout Timeline

The generic version of lenacapavir could be ready for distribution as early as 2027, pending necessary regulatory approvals.

However, initial supplies of the drug may reach some low- and middle-income countries sooner.

They could arrive by the end of 2025 through existing programmes like the Global Fund and PEPFAR.

The Gates Foundation is not the only group building an affordable supply. Unitaid and others announced parallel deals with Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories (DRL), another Indian manufacturer.