‘Game-Changer’ HIV Drug to Reach Millions Thanks to Global Fund & Gilead Deal

Lower-income countries are set to gain access to a revolutionary HIV prevention drug following a landmark deal between U.S. pharmaceutical giant Gilead and the Global Fund, the health financing organization announced Wednesday.

Describing the agreement to supply lenacapavir to low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) as a “significant milestone for global health equity,” the Global Fund hailed it as a breakthrough in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

“This marks the first time in history that an HIV prevention product will be introduced in LMICs at the same time as in high-income countries,” the Global Fund said in a statement.

Approved last month by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, lenacapavir — marketed under the brand name Yeztugo — is expected to reach two million people, thanks to this new deal.

Unlike earlier pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) drugs, which require taking a daily pill, lenacapavir only needs to be injected twice a year and has been shown to reduce HIV transmission risk by over 99.9% in adults and adolescents.

“This is not just a scientific breakthrough — it’s a turning point for HIV/AIDS,” said Global Fund chief Peter Sands.
“For the first time, we have a tool that can fundamentally change the trajectory of the HIV epidemic — but only if we get it to the people who need it most.”

The Global Fund aims to ship the first doses to at least one African country before the end of 2025, marking what it called a “transformational shift in how HIV prevention is delivered to communities with the highest burden of new infections.”

South African Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi underscored the significance of the drug, particularly in countries like South Africa where adolescent girls and young women are disproportionately affected by HIV.

“Lenacapavir offers young women, and everyone at risk, a discreet, long-acting option to stay HIV-free,” said Motsoaledi. “This is a game changer for South Africa.”