The National Drug Authority (NDA) has approved Lenacapavir, a long-acting HIV prevention drug administered just twice a year, marking a major milestone in Uganda’s fight against HIV/AIDS.
Announcing the decision, the NDA described the approval as a breakthrough for HIV prevention, particularly for people at high risk of infection.
“Uganda’s National Drug Authority has just approved Lenacapavir, a twice-yearly dose PrEP manufactured by Gilead, a USA-based company. This is a game-changer for HIV prevention, especially for those at high risk. This is a great step towards ending AIDS by 2030,” the Authority said in a statement.
Lenacapavir is a long-acting injectable pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) developed by U.S. pharmaceutical company Gilead Sciences. Unlike daily oral PrEP pills, it is administered once every six months, making it the longest-acting HIV prevention option approved to date.
Studies show that Lenacapavir offers near-complete protection against HIV infection when taken as prescribed, particularly among populations that struggle with daily pill adherence, such as young people, mobile populations, and key risk groups.
The drug belongs to a new class of antiretroviral medicines known as capsid inhibitors. It works by targeting the HIV capsid, the protein shell that protects the virus’s genetic material. By disrupting multiple stages of the virus’s life cycle, Lenacapavir prevents HIV from successfully establishing infection in the body.
Because the drug remains active in the body for several months, it provides sustained protection with only two injections per year.
The approval is expected to strengthen Uganda’s HIV prevention strategy by reducing barriers associated with daily medication, stigma, and missed doses. Uganda remains committed to the global goal of ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030, and the NDA says innovations like Lenacapavir will play a critical role in achieving that target.
