Lenacapavir rollout set to transform South Africa’s HIV prevention – Motsoaledi

Health Minister, Aaron Motsoaledi, says South Africa’s rollout of the breakthrough HIV prevention drug Lenacapavir will prioritise high-risk groups, including adolescent girls and young women.

He says access to the drug will be available at 350 selected health facilities once it is officially launched by President Cyril Ramaphosa.

These include pregnant and breastfeeding women, as well as high-risk groups such as sex workers and men who have sex with men.

“Only finishing touches are left, including the fact that we want it to be launched by the President. We are discussing with his office to try to align our diaries, so that we can do it at the time when the President is available to do it,” Motsoaledi said.

South Africa received its first batch of 37,920 doses earlier this month, a major milestone in the country’s ongoing fight against HIV and AIDS.

Lenacapavir, registered locally in October 2025 by the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA), is a long-acting injectable designed to prevent HIV infection – administered twice a year – a development expected to improve adherence compared to daily PrEP pills.

The Authority said the medicine will prevent HIV-1 infection in adults and adolescents weighing at least 35 kg.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has endorsed the drug as an additional prevention option, following its release of new guidelines in July 2025. 

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus described the drug as a breakthrough development since the approval of the first antiretroviral in the late 1900s.

“Lenacapavir is not a vaccine, but it is the next best thing, a long-acting antiretroviral taken once every six months by people who are HIV negative, but at risk of infection. In trials, it has been shown to prevent almost all cases of HIV infection.”

Despite its promise, affordability remains a concern with the current cost estimated at around $28,000 (over R400,000).

Speaking to the public broadcaster, Motsoaledi said the drug’s current price is unsustainable for widespread use.

However, partnerships with global health organisations and manufacturers are expected to reduce the cost to about $40 per dose through generic production.

“That is absolutely unaffordable for the African continent. Hence, the global fund moved in and secured two million doses, out of which South Africa is going to get more than 900 doses,” Motsoaledi said.

Meanwhile, Deputy President and SANAC chairperson Paul Mashatile has welcomed the development, describing Lenacapavir as a “game changer” in efforts to reduce new infections.

As the Chairperson of the South African National AIDS Council (SANAC), I would like to congratulate the Health Department and all parties as South Africa welcomes the arrival of Lenacapavir in the country.

According to the Health Department, this first batch of the HIV… pic.twitter.com/BV0VKdYNiR

— Paul Mashatile🇿🇦 (@PMashatile) April 8, 2026

The Department of Health says the rollout will help accelerate progress towards ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.