The medication, marketed under the name Yeztugo by Gilead Sciences, is an injectable form of PrEP that targets the virus at the protein shell level, known as the capsid. By disrupting this, the virus is unable to replicate. The injection is given subcutaneously, usually in the abdominal area, and only needs to be administered twice a year by a healthcare professional.

Clinical trials involving thousands of participants across multiple countries showed a 96 percent reduction in the risk of HIV. Among those receiving lenacapavir, almost no new HIV infections were reported, outperforming existing treatments such as the daily PrEP pill Truvada. This less frequent dosing could also help improve adherence and reduce the stigma associated with HIV prevention.

Experts are optimistic about the drug. Professor Carlos del Rio of Emory University calls it “an important step forward,” while Kevin Robert Frost of amfAR describes it as a potential gamechanger. However, they stress that its success will largely depend on how accessible and affordable the medication becomes for those who need it.

Accessibility remains the biggest challenge. With a price tag exceeding $28,000 per year, it is unclear whether insurers in the US will cover the costs, let alone whether the drug will be readily available in other countries. Frost urges Gilead and the US government to collaborate on affordable distribution programmes to ensure lenacapavir is accessible to everyone. Only then can this innovative form of PrEP truly contribute to reducing HIV worldwide.