India Pharma Outlook Team | Tuesday, 15 July 2025
The World Health Organization (WHO) has taken a significant step forward by endorsing Gilead's lenacapavir, an injectable drug twice-yearly, as a preventive measure to protect against HIV. The WHO confirmed this recommendation on Monday morning from the International AIDS Conference in Kigali, Rwanda, just weeks after the U.S. authorized it, offering renewed hope for reduced virus spillover.
Lenacapavir is a long-acting capsid inhibitor, and the results from the large clinical trials showed nearly 100% efficacy. It is a biannual injection and provides an entirely new pathway to prevention modality from daily oral pills or other short-term treatment options. No longer will a person's adherence to HIV prevention be dictated by stigma, access to healthcare or medicine, or socio-economic status.
"While we have not developed an HIV vaccine, lenacapavir is the next best thing," said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who praised the possible impact of lenacapavir on global prevention programs.
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The recommendation from WHO comes during a stagnated moment in HIV prevention efforts. 1.3 million new infections were reported in 2024, and funding for treatment was still becoming unsustainable. The persistent stigma, coupled with under-resourced programs, means that those most vulnerable to HIV infection continue to be impacted.
To support broader access, WHO also advocates the use of HIV rapid tests, eliminating complex diagnostic hurdles and making preventive care more accessible.
Lenacapavir’s arrival signals a critical new chapter in the fight against HIV.
