Dr. Flavia Matovu Kiweewa, the lead researcher for Lenacapavir at MU-JHU Care Ltd in Uganda, has announced that the groundbreaking HIV prevention could become available in Uganda within the next two years, pending regulatory approvals.
“We hope that within two years, with all stakeholders playing their roles FDA and NDA approvals, along with a call for funding support from the Ministry of Health we will have this medication available for those in need,” said Dr. Kiweewa while addressing health journalists in Kampala on Friday.
Lenacapavir, marketed as Sunlenca, is a prescription medication administered via injection twice a year and It is designed for adults living with HIV whose previous treatments have failed.
According to Dr. Kiweewa, In a trial conducted by Gilead Sciences in Uganda and South Africa, Lenacapavir demonstrated 100% efficacy in preventing HIV transmission among adolescent girls and women during the blinded phase.
Progress Toward Licensure
Gilead Sciences, the drug’s manufacturer, is in the process of seeking FDA approval, relying on pivotal studies conducted in Uganda and other regions. Dr. Kiweewa emphasized the importance of inspections by regulatory bodies to ensure the quality of data, laboratories, and study sites before licensure.
“Gilead has also signed agreements with generic manufacturers to provide the drug at a lower cost, reflecting their significant investment in research,” she noted.
The Global and Local HIV Burden
HIV continues to pose a major public health challenge. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 39.9 million people were living with HIV at the end of 2023, with 65% in Africa. That year, 630,000 people died from HIV-related causes, and 1.3 million contracted the virus.
WHO however noted that lately, the world has made progress toward WHO’s 2025 targets for combating HIV, with 86% of people living with HIV knowing their status, 77% receiving antiretroviral therapy, and 72% achieving viral load suppression.
Call for Action
Dr. Stephen Asiimwe Dr Asiimwe Stephen, Uganda Aids Commission HIV Prevention Officer, urged the media to promote accurate information and called on stakeholders to advocate for structural changes, including stigma reduction and supportive legal frameworks.
“Structural barriers, such as laws and societal attitudes, need to be addressed as they hinder progress in fighting the epidemic,” he said.
HIV activist Vivian Nabanoba, a member of ACTS 101 and a person living with HIV, stressed the need for greater awareness and education about HIV.
“We assume we know everything about HIV/AIDS, but many people still lack critical information. HIV positive mothers also need robust support systems to combat stigma,” she said.
Dr. Kiweewa also highlighted the continued importance of traditional HIV prevention methods, including the ABC approach (Abstinence, Be faithful, and Condom use), while encouraging the adoption of new scientific interventions like Lenacapavir.
