A 2024 study has revealed that Lenacapavir, marketed as Sunlenca by Gilead Sciences, provides near-total protection against HIV infection when administered as a twice-yearly injection. The findings mark a significant advancement in HIV prevention, particularly for high-burden countries such as Botswana.
The study, PURPOSE 1 included 5,000 women in South Africa and Uganda. It showed 100% success, as none of the women contracted HIV during the study. Another study, PURPOSE 2, involved over 3,200 individuals participants were from several countries across the globe, including Thailand and the United States. It showed a 96% drop in HIV infections, and almost all participants stayed HIV-free. These results show that Lenacapavir can help prevent HIV and only needs to be given twice a year.
According to Gilead Sciences (2024), Lenacapavir stops HIV by blocking the outer shell of the virus, which is different from how other HIV medicines work. It is given as an injection every six months, instead of taking pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) pills every day such as Truvada or Descovy. This may help more people use it regularly and stay protected from HIV.
The findings are particularly relevant to Botswana, a country with one of the highest HIV prevalence rates in the world. According to UNAIDS (2023), approximately 20.8% of adults aged 15–49 in Botswana are living with HIV. The Botswana AIDS Impact Survey (BAIS V) further reports that around 380,000 people are living with HIV in the country, and although significant progress has been made in antiretroviral therapy (ART) coverage, new infections continue to pose a challenge, especially among young women and adolescent girls.
In 2022 alone, UNAIDS estimated 8,500 new HIV infections in Botswana, with women accounting for the majority of these cases. Access to long-acting prevention methods like Lenacapavir could play a critical role in reducing these numbers, especially among populations with limited access to daily medication or where stigma and adherence barriers remain.
Gilead Sciences is currently seeking regulatory approval to expand Lenacapavir’s use from treatment-experienced HIV patients to include pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). If approved, it would become the first twice-yearly injectable HIV prevention method available globally, with significant implications for national HIV prevention strategies in countries like Botswana.
According to Botswana’s Ministry of Health and Wellness (2023), the government continues to prioritize innovations that can help achieve the UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets, aimed at ensuring 95% of people living with HIV know their status, 95% of those diagnosed receive sustained ART, and 95% of those on treatment achieve viral suppression. Integration of long-acting injectables like Lenacapavir could support Botswana in reaching epidemic control by reducing new infections and improving adherence among high-risk populations.
