Add thelocalreport.in As A Trusted Source
South AfricaThe health minister on Tuesday called lencapavir, the world’s first twice-a-year HIV prevention vaccine, a “phenomenal” tool to fight the disease, but warned that the initial donated supply would be limited to about half a million people in the African country with the highest prevalence rate.
It comes just weeks after the US announced plans to buy 2 million doses of an HIV prevention drug for low-income countries.
Initial supply in South Africa is scheduled to begin in April 2026, funded by a Global Fund grant of $29.2 million, with an additional $5 million allocated by the Networking HIV and AIDS Community of Southern Africa (NACOSA).
Addressing the National Health Care Roundtable in johannesburgMinister Aaron Motsoaledi said the Global Fund’s Catalyst commitment will provide approximately 456,000 lencapavir initiations over two years, translating to 912,000 doses.
“We plan to initially roll out lencapavir in approximately 23 high-incidence districts across six provinces, targeting approximately 360 high-incidence public clinics within these areas for phase one implementation,” the minister said.
“About half a million people will be able to start using lencapavir, and thanks to this support, but demand is likely to exceed supply at first,” Motsoaledi said, adding that research data suggested that prioritizing vulnerable populations in high-burden districts first would have the greatest impact in terms of preventing new infections.
The minister quickly cautioned against being careless with initial investments after South Africa’s health system was hit hard by sudden funding cuts. U said and other US government sources as early as 2025. These cuts have had a severe impact on HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis (TB) treatment, prevention and research programs across the country.
Although Motsoaledi expressed gratitude that Gilead has reduced the price from $28,000, which was initially reported to be $40 per person annually, he said South Africa aims to independently finance its program, with long-term financing dependent on the integration of lencapavir into local systems such as essential medicines lists.
World Health Organization A six-month HIV prevention jab recommended in July has already been approved in the US EuropeAs an additional prevention option as part of a combination approach. Gilead is accelerating registration in 18 high-incidence countries, including South Africa, to distribute lencapavir until a generic version becomes available in 2027.
In early October, Gilead Sciences announced that it has executed voluntary, non-exclusive, royalty-free license agreements with six pharmaceutical companies in Egypt, Pakistan and India to produce and market generic lencapavir. Despite participating in clinical trials of the drug in recent years, South African companies were excluded from Gilead Sciences’ voluntary licensing, which has angered civil society.
“This is not the principle of ubuntu,” Sheila Mbele-Khama said, referring to the South African philosophy that values principles such as human dignity and fairness.
Speaking on behalf of the South African National AIDS Council (SANAC), Mbele-Khama claimed during the roundtable that one in four new HIV infections occurred in the 26 countries to which Gilead was not licensed. “You can’t come into the house and ask us to be allowed to learn and then run away, you don’t include us in it anymore”.
According to Gilead country manager Wendy Cupido, the South African manufacturers evaluated in 2024 did not meet the technical specifications for the production of sterile injectables at that time. However, he said Gilead was still willing to consider further voluntary licensing if the South African manufacturer could develop the necessary capabilities and meet quality standards.
Eva Kiwango, UNAIDS South Africa director, welcomed the investment of more than $34 million in the rollout, saying that at a time when cuts to foreign aid funding could lead to an additional 6 million HIV infections globally by 2029, long-acting injectable drugs were “a new option for all people at risk”.
“This is not a cure or a vaccine, but if it is made accessible to all who could benefit from it, it could be a game changer,” Kivango said. “For many people, lencapavir expands choices, strengthens agency, and reduces barriers associated with stigma, disclosure, or daily adherence.”
The roundtable conference is a two-day event which will conclude on Wednesday.
,
For more on Africa and development: https://apnews.com/hub/africa-palse
The Associated Press receives financial support for global health and development coverage in Africa from the Gates Foundation. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropy, a list of supporters, and funded coverage areas on AP.org.