Tiny kingdom becomes first African nation to receive breakthrough HIV shot offering near-total protection | Fortune

"Eswatini on Tuesday became the first African country to receive lenacapavir, the first twice-yearly HIV prevention injection hailed by global health officials as a game-changer in the fight against a virus that has killed tens of millions of people across the continent. Developed by Gilead Sciences, lenacapavir has demonstrated near-total protection in clinical studies. Its rollout, initially planned for 10 high-risk African countries, is part of the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, or PEPFAR, in partnership with the Global Fund. By 2027, the initiative aims to benefit at least 2 million people in those countries."

"The United States, whose deep cuts to foreign aid this year under President Donald Trump have severely impacted Africa's health programs, initially planned to distribute 250,000 doses this year to the 10 countries. Zambia also received its first shipment Tuesday, while Gilead seeks regulatory authority in Botswana, Kenya, Malawi, Namibia, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda and Zimbabwe. That was increased to 325,000 due to "early demand signs," Brad Smith, senior advisor for the Bureau of Global Health Security and Diplomacy, told journalists."

"The U.S. government has noted that over 25 million people across Africa are living with HIV. In Eswatini, a tiny kingdom in southern Africa, about 6,000 high-risk people are set to benefit from the drug's initial rollout, primarily to prevent HIV transmission from mothers to newborns."

Lenacapavir is a twice-yearly HIV prevention injection developed by Gilead Sciences that has shown near-total protection in clinical studies. Eswatini became the first African country to receive the drug. The rollout is part of a PEPFAR initiative in partnership with the Global Fund and initially targets 10 high-risk African countries, aiming to reach at least 2 million people by 2027. The United States initially planned 250,000 doses this year and increased that to 325,000 due to early demand. Zambia received a first shipment, and regulatory approvals are being sought across multiple African countries. In Eswatini, about 6,000 high-risk people are prioritized to prevent mother-to-newborn transmission amid over 200,000 people living with HIV.

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