The United States on Tuesday announced that it has delivered the first batches of a new HIV prevention drug to two African countries, marking the beginning of a broader rollout that is expected to include Kenya. The move comes months after President Donald Trump’s administration sharply cut back on global aid spending, including longstanding funding for HIV and AIDS programs.
The drug, Lenacapavir, is being introduced in partnership with the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria and pharmaceutical company Gilead Sciences. According to Global Fund executive director Peter Sands, a total of 1,000 doses have already been delivered to Eswatini and Zambia, where administration of the drug will begin this week.
Jeremy Lewin, who coordinates U.S. aid at the State Department, confirmed that the United States plans to finance two million doses for low- and middle-income African countries. The initial target for distribution is 2028, although officials believe the goal could be achieved as early as mid-2027.
Lenacapavir, an injectable drug taken only twice a year, is considered a breakthrough in HIV prevention. Experts say it could dramatically improve adherence compared to daily pill regimens and significantly reduce new infections, particularly among vulnerable groups such as pregnant and breastfeeding women.
Gilead’s chairman and CEO, Daniel O’Day, said steps are underway to authorize the drug’s distribution in Botswana, Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda, Namibia, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe, placing Kenya in line to be among the next recipients.
“This is a really important moment in the history of HIV,” O’Day said. “It is the first time in history medication is given in Africa the same year it was approved in the U.S.”
The rollout comes even as Trump’s administration continues to reduce foreign assistance, slashing more than 80 percent of aid and withdrawing funds from key HIV prevention programs, including those supporting PrEP for people at high risk of infection. The White House has argued that aid spending is wasteful and should be narrowly targeted.
Despite significant progress—global efforts have reduced new HIV infections by 40 percent since 2010—UNAIDS data still estimate 1.3 million new infections projected for 2024.
Concerns over the long-term impact of U.S. aid reductions are growing. Research submitted Monday by experts in Spain, Brazil, and Mozambique warns that global cutbacks from the U.S. and several European countries could result in 22.6 million preventable deaths by 2030.
As the U.S. begins delivering Lenacapavir to Africa, public health officials hope the new drug will help sustain momentum in the fight against HIV, even as funding uncertainties threaten progress made over the past decade.
