Gilead commends South Africa’s launch of long-acting HIV prevention drug
Gilead Sciences (NASDAQ:GILD) has formally recognized the South African government’s leadership in accelerating the nationwide rollout of lenacapavir, a long-acting injectable medication designed for HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP).
The launch, led by President Cyril Ramaphosa and Health Minister Dr. Aaron Motsoaledi on June 5, 2026, marks the inclusion of South Africa as the ninth African nation to introduce the drug, which is administered twice yearly.
South Africa faces the world’s largest HIV burden, with approximately 7.8 million people living with the virus and roughly 170,000 new infections reported annually.
The introduction of lenacapavir is viewed by public health officials as a critical intervention to overcome the adherence challenges associated with daily oral PrEP medications.
By offering a discreet, long-acting alternative, the government aims to better reach vulnerable priority populations, including adolescent girls and young women, sex workers, and men who have sex with men.
The rollout is the result of a multi-stakeholder partnership involving the South African government, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, and the U.S. State Department through PEPFAR.
Gilead is currently providing an initial supply of the medication at no profit to support these early-access efforts.
These organizations are working in tandem to integrate the drug into existing HIV services while planning for a broader transition to generic versions of the medication by 2027.
The pharmaceutical company has already established royalty-free voluntary licensing agreements with six generic manufacturers, covering 120 low- and lower-middle-income countries.
Additionally, the South African government is actively exploring pathways to enable local manufacturing of the drug, which would further secure supply chain resilience for the region.
Initial distribution has prioritized 360 health facilities located in the country’s high-burden districts.
