WHO Endorses Twice-Yearly HIV Prevention Injection

Rutendo Mazhindu - ZimNow Reporter

The World Health Organization (WHO) endorsed the use of injectable lenacapavir (LEN) as a new HIV prevention method administered twice a year, unveiled at the 13th International AIDS Society (IAS) Conference on HIV Science in Kigali.

LEN is the first twice yearly injectable pre exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) option, offering a long-acting alternative to daily oral pills.

WHO said the injection provides effective protection, especially for individuals who face challenges with adherence, stigma or limited access to health care.

“While an HIV vaccine remains elusive, lenacapavir is the next best thing: a long-acting antiretroviral shown in trials to prevent almost all HIV infections among those at risk,” said WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

“The launch of WHO’s new guidelines, alongside the FDA’s recent approval, marks a critical step forward in expanding access to this powerful tool.”

The product comes at a time when global HIV prevention efforts have stalled, with 1.3 million new infections recorded in 2024, mainly among key populations including sex workers, men who have sex with men, transgender people, people who inject drugs, and adolescents.

WHO has also recommended rapid HIV testing to support the rollout of LEN and similar long-acting PrEP products, removing complex barriers to access and enabling delivery through pharmacies, clinics and tele-health.

LEN joins daily oral PrEP, injectable cabotegravir (CAB-LA), and the dapivirine vaginal ring as available options for HIV prevention.

WHO also recommended the use of long-acting injectable cabotegravir and rilpivirine (CAB/RPV) for people with full viral suppression and no active hepatitis B infection as an alternative treatment switch.

Further updates include integration of HIV services with noncommunicable diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, and mental health care, screening for asymptomatic gonorrhoea and chlamydia in key populations, and early HIV testing for individuals with suspected mpox.

By the end of 2024, an estimated 40.8 million people were living with HIV globally, with approximately 26.5 million in the WHO African Region.

Around 630 000 people died from HIV-related causes and 31.6 million were receiving antiretroviral therapy.