Kenya approves rollout of injectable HIV prevention drug

Kenya's Ministry of Health said on Saturday that it has approved the rollout of lenacapavir, a twice-yearly HIV prevention drug, for use in the East African country.



The ministry said the recommendation follows a comprehensive scientific assessment of the quality, safety, and efficacy of lenacapavir, conducted in line with Kenyan law and applicable international regulatory standards.



"Its long-acting formulation allows it to be administered only twice a year, offering an important alternative to daily oral HIV prevention medicines. This is particularly beneficial for individuals who face challenges with taking pills every day," Aden Duale, cabinet secretary in the Ministry of Health, said in a statement issued in Nairobi, the Kenyan capital.



Kenya is among the first African countries to recommend lenacapavir for registration, a decision that aligns with recent global public health guidance, including recommendations by the World Health Organization, Duale said.