Low-cost HIV prevention jab offers hope to end ‘global epidemic’

A new and low cost HIV prevention jab, Lenacapavir is considered a medical breakthrough, offering a promising hope to end global epidemic.

A twice-yearly and cost-effective HIV prevention jab will be available to 120 poorer countries by 2027, aiming to protect the population from the anathema of HIV.

The preventive drug, Lenacapavir, will cost $40, around 0.1 percent of the original cost, a patient a year, promised by the funders under two agreements announced earlier this week.

In 2024, globally around 1.3 million new HIV cases were reported.

Given the frequency of the cases, the drug offers a transformative effect on the course of the HIV epidemic

In the clinical trials, Lenacapavir proved effective against the new cases of HIV.

According to the World Health Organization, the drug is recommended for preventing HIV in July as Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director general, hailed the jab as “the next best thing” to an HIV vaccine.

The agreement related to HIV prevention work was reached between the Clinton Foundation in collaboration with the Gates Foundation and South Africa’s research institute, Wits RHI.

The low-cost injection is usually given twice a year, giving a 6 month protection against the HIV at a time.

As reported by UNAIDS, globally more than 40 million people are suffering from HIV, leading to 600,000 deaths from AIDS-related deaths last year.

Among all the countries, South Africa is the country reeling with the highest number of HIV cases.