South Africa is moving to manufacture a new HIV prevention drug locally in an effort to improve access to life-saving medication and strengthen the country’s pharmaceutical sector. The government is working with global health partners, including the United States Pharmacopeia, Unitaid, and pharmaceutical company Gilead Sciences, to identify a South African manufacturer capable of producing the long-acting HIV prevention medicine Lenacapavir. Lenacapavir is a twice-yearly injectable drug developed to help prevent and treat infection with the HIV/AIDS. Unlike traditional daily pills used for HIV prevention, the medicine can remain active in the body for months, making it a promising option for improving adherence and reducing new infections.
Health officials say producing the drug locally could significantly lower costs and expand access in South Africa, which has the largest HIV epidemic in the world. An estimated eight million people in the country are currently living with the virus, according to national health authorities. The plan is linked to Gilead’s voluntary licensing program, which allows selected generic manufacturers to produce affordable versions of the drug for low and middle income countries. So far, licenses have been granted to manufacturers in countries including India, Egypt and Pakistan, covering distribution in more than 120 countries, among them South Africa.
Currently, supplies of lenacapavir are largely distributed through donor-funded program. However, public health experts warn that global demand for the drug could soon exceed available supply as more countries adopt it for prevention strategies. By establishing domestic production, South Africa hopes not only to secure a steady supply for its own population but also to support wider access across the African continent and other middle income markets.
