Uganda’s Health Minister, Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng, has welcomed a historic reduction in the cost of the HIV prevention drug lenacapavir. Announced at the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) meeting in New York on Wednesday, the annual price will drop from Shs 102 million (US$28,218) to just Shs 130,000 (US$40) for 120 low- and middle-income countries.
Lenacapavir, a twice-yearly injectable pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), was trialled in Uganda earlier this year and proved 100% effective in preventing HIV. The drug’s initial high cost had raised concerns about accessibility, prompting global health advocates, including UNAIDS, to call for affordable pricing.
“This agreement ensures that this life-saving HIV prevention injection will now be within reach for millions in low- and middle-income countries,” Dr. Aceng said on social media.
The price cut is made possible through a partnership between Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories, Unitaid, the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), and Wits RHI, with generic versions expected from 2027. The oral initiation dose, required before the first injection, will cost no more than US$17 (approx. Shs 55,000), making it comparable to existing oral PrEP options.
Already approved by the US FDA and the European Medicines Agency, lenacapavir offers a significant breakthrough by eliminating the need for daily pills, simplifying HIV prevention and improving adherence across affected communities
