The Kenyan government has approved the rollout of Lenacapavir, a long-acting HIV prevention medication.
The Ministry of Health, through the Pharmacy and Poisons Board, on January 10, recommended the registration of Lenacapavir 300 mg tablets and 464 mg injectable solution for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). The approval followed a thorough review of the drug’s safety, quality, and effectiveness.
Lenacapavir worked by targeting critical stages of the HIV lifecycle, preventing the virus from establishing infection.
Its unique long-acting formulation allowed it to be administered only twice a year, reducing the need for daily pills and making HIV prevention more convenient for patients.
The injectable form of Lenacapavir was particularly beneficial for individuals who face challenges with daily oral medication, such as pill fatigue or adherence difficulties.
By offering a twice-yearly alternative, the drug aims to improve compliance and expand access to effective HIV prevention.
The most frequent side effect reported during the trials was injection site reactions, including nodules, pain, or redness, which occurred in 68 to 83 per cent of participants but rarely led to discontinuation of treatment.
This announcement came after President William Ruto promised HIV patients that he would introduce a long-lasting solution starting in January 2026.
Kenya was among the first African countries to recommend Lenacapavir for registration, a decision that aligned with recent global public health guidance, including recommendations by the World Health Organisation.
“Kenya has been prioritised for the initial rollout of Lenacapavir through global partnerships, and preparatory planning is underway to ensure the medicine is introduced in a timely, equitable, and responsible manner for populations at substantial risk of HIV infection,” the ministry stated.
Kenya had made significant progress in expanding access to daily oral PrEP across all 47 counties. The existing daily oral PrEP programme has been implemented nationwide and has reached substantial numbers of people at risk of HIV infection.
Currently, approximately 87 per cent of people living with HIV in Kenya are on treatment, and the country has achieved a 90.1 per cent coverage rate for prevention of mother-to-child transmission, leading to more HIV-free births.
