South Africa Commits $72 Million to Lenacapavir Rollout for 360 Clinics
Updated
Updated · Business Insider Africa · Jun 6
South Africa Commits $72 Million to Lenacapavir Rollout for 360 Clinics
1 articles · Updated · Business Insider Africa · Jun 6
Summary
R1.3 billion ($72 million) will fund South Africa’s nationwide launch of lenacapavir, with the first phase covering 360 public clinics in 24 high-burden districts.
Lenacapavir is a twice-yearly injectable HIV prevention drug that showed near-100% effectiveness in trials, offering an alternative to daily preventive pills and reducing missed-dose risks.
Nearly 1 million people are targeted by end-2027, with adolescent girls, young women and pregnant mothers prioritized in a country facing the world’s largest HIV epidemic.
Government funding is being supplemented by partners including the Global Fund, while South Africa is counting on licensed generic versions by 2027 to ease the high cost of Gilead’s branded drug.
The rollout also fits a broader African push to produce 60% of the continent’s medical products locally by 2040.
As South Africa rolls out a new HIV super-drug, can it win the race against patent laws and counterfeit medicines?
A new HIV shot costs $28,000 in the US but $100 in Africa. Is this generosity or a global health injustice?
South Africa Launches Biannual Lenacapavir PrEP: A $40 Breakthrough in HIV Prevention and the Path to National Scale-Up
Overview
On June 5, 2026, South Africa launched a new era in HIV prevention by rolling out Lenacapavir, a biannual injectable PrEP drug. Led by President Cyril Ramaphosa, this initiative highlights the country’s strong commitment to public health innovation and its determined pursuit of ending HIV as a public health threat. Health Minister Motsoaledi expressed confidence that South Africa can now eliminate HIV/AIDS, as Lenacapavir offers a powerful new tool to drastically reduce infection rates nationwide. This rollout marks a significant step forward in the fight against HIV, promising improved prevention and hope for the future.