• Lenacapavir will be available at $40 annually in over 120 countries.
• The drug is administered via two injections a year, offering six months of HIV protection.
• This price significantly reduces the current annual cost of $28,000.
• The deal was facilitated by former President Bill Clinton and several foundations.
• South Africa is expected to be among the first countries to benefit from this rollout.

Lenacapavir, a new HIV prevention drug, is on track to become substantially more affordable, with plans to offer it at just $40 per year in over 120 low- and middle-income countries starting in 2027. This significant reduction from the original price of $28,000 is seen as a crucial step towards ending the HIV/AIDS epidemic globally, according to BBC and Africanews.

This innovative therapy, which requires only two injections per year, provides six months of protection against HIV infection. The lowered cost is a result of agreements brokered by former U.S. President Bill Clinton, with participation from the Clinton Foundation, the Gates Foundation, and key global health partners like South Africa's Wits RHI. Philippe Duneton, executive director of Unitaid, praised this as a "historic breakthrough," emphasizing the potential for advanced healthcare tools to be made accessible from the start, as noted by Le Monde.

Lenacapavir has received endorsements from the World Health Organization and has been shown to have a 100% success rate in clinical trials. It is expected to replace the current oral PrEP pills, which are stigmatized and less accessible to many populations, including young women, LGBTQ+ individuals, and those using drugs, according to BBC and Africanews.

The initiative comes amid a significant public health challenge, with over 40 million people living with HIV, particularly in South Africa, which bears the highest burden of the virus. Experts predict that increasing access to Lenacapavir could drastically reduce new infections, potentially helping millions globally, as highlighted by Africanews and Le Monde.