28 Oct 2025

The World Health Organization (WHO) recently released new guidelines recommending the use of injectable lenacapavir (LEN) twice a year as an additional pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) option for HIV prevention, in a landmark policy action that could help reshape the global HIV response. 

Issued at the 13^th International AIDS Society Conference on HIV Science, in Rwanda, WHO stated that LEN, the first twice-yearly injectable PrEP product, offers a highly effective, long-acting alternative to daily oral pills and other shorter-acting options.

The guideline highlights that with just two doses per year, LEN was a transformative step forward in protecting people at risk of HIV, particularly those who face challenges with daily adherence, stigma or 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 Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General.

Dr Tedros has said WHO was committed to working with countries and partners to ensure the innovation reaches communities as quickly and safely as possible

Regarding the roll out of the long-acting injectable antiretroviral therapy Lenacapavir (LEN) remains pending, the Minister of Health, Dr Stephen Modise  said although the country had adopted the principle of injectable antiretroviral (ARV) treatment, the actual introduction of the therapies into the national programme has not yet occurred.

“We keenly following up on it and we want to go there,” he said, indicating that it was worthwhile as the injectable ARVs, offers much less frequent dosing than daily pills.

He was responding to questions on the status the status of injectable ARV medications in the country during a press briefing in Gaborone recently. He further highlighted that the introduction of long-acting injectables could potentially reduce treatment burdens for patients and strengthen treatment adherence. ENDS