Lenacapavir price cut from Sh3.8M to Sh5,400 yearly.
Kenyans at risk of HIV infection are set to benefit from a major medical breakthrough after the cost of lenacapavir, a long-acting HIV prevention injection, dropped from Sh3.8 million ($28,000) a year to just Sh5,400 ($40).
The deal was announced in New York by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Unitaid, which confirmed that two Indian companies, Hetero and Dr Reddy’s Laboratories, will produce generic versions of the drug.
Lenacapavir is injected only twice a year, making it easier and more effective than daily PrEP pills that many people struggle to take consistently. Clinical trials published in the New England Journal of Medicine showed it reduces new HIV infections by 96–100%.
Before switching to the injection, patients will take a short oral course of pills costing about $17.
“Scientific advances like lenacapavir can help us end the HIV epidemic if they are made accessible to people who can benefit from them the most,” Trevor Mundel, President of Global Health, Gates Foundation
Kenya has already created a rollout plan. Data from the National Syndemic Diseases Control Council (NSDCC) shows 20,105 new infections were reported this year, adding to the 1.4 million Kenyans already living with HIV.
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale confirmed that the branded version will arrive in January 2026, with generic production expected to improve access.
“The Ministry of Health, through NASCOP and our partners, is actively working to ensure this innovative product is accessible by January 2026. We remain committed to equitable access, community engagement, and integrating lenacapavir into national policy to reach priority populations effectively.”
Aden Duale, Health CS
UNAIDS Executive Director Winnie Byanyima described the price cut as a “leap forward” but urged patent holder Gilead Sciences to expand licenses so that no low- or middle-income country is left behind.
At present, only 18% of people who need PrEP are using it. Experts believe that lenacapavir could change this and help the world move closer to ending AIDS as a public health threat.
