Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi has confirmed that South Africa will begin rolling out the long-awaited twice-yearly HIV prevention injection lenacapavir in June.
Motsoaledi made the announcement on Wednesday during his department’s budget vote in Parliament following the arrival of the medication in the country in April.
“He said that “the President has given us a date of 5 June 2026 for the launch of Lenacapavir (Len), which will take place in Mpumalanga.”
Motsoaledi explained that, “In the next two weeks, we will be delivering Lenacapavir stocks to depots and health facilities.”
Initial Rollout to Focus on High HIV Burden Areas
The injection will initially be available at 360 public health facilities in areas with the highest HIV burden. It will not yet be available in the private sector.
Unlike traditional daily prevention methods, lenacapavir is administered only twice a year.
Health experts believe the extended dosing schedule could significantly benefit people who struggle to consistently use existing prevention options such as daily oral PrEP pills.
Key Groups Prioritised for Access
The minister said the programme will prioritise groups at higher risk of HIV infection, including:
- Men who have sex with men
- Transgender people
- People who inject drugs
- Adolescent girls and young women up to the age of 24
- Pregnant and breastfeeding mothers
- Female sex workers
For many people in these communities, stigma, access barriers, and daily pill fatigue have complicated HIV prevention efforts for years. By reducing the frequency of dosing, lenacapavir could make prevention more manageable and accessible.
How Lenacapavir Works
The regimen begins with an initiation dose consisting of an injection administered just under the skin, along with tablets taken on days one and two. After that, users receive a single injection every six months.
Manufactured by Gilead Sciences, lenacapavir is approved for use in adults and adolescents weighing at least 35kg who are HIV-negative and at risk of contracting HIV.
The Department of Health previously said it plans to procure more affordable generic versions of lenacapavir from April 2027, as they become available, to expand access to more clinics across the country.
