For more than 40 years, scientists around the world have been searching for a way to stop the spread of HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. Despite major progress in treatment and awareness, more than a million people still become newly infected every year. Until now, a truly effective vaccine or long-term prevention method remained out of reach — but that may finally be changing.
In a major medical breakthrough, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a new long-acting drug called lenacapavir, which can protect people from HIV infection with just two injections a year. This medicine, marketed under the brand name Yeztugo, has shown 99.9% effectiveness in preventing HIV transmission.
This could mark a turning point in the global fight against one of the world’s deadliest viruses.
A New Hope in HIV Prevention
For many years, people at risk of HIV could take PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis) medicines — pills that help prevent infection. However, these pills had to be taken every day, and many people found it difficult to stick to that routine. Missing even a few doses reduced their effectiveness.
Lenacapavir changes that completely. Instead of a daily pill, people can now get just two injections per year, offering almost complete protection. This makes it far easier to use, especially in places where regular access to medicine is difficult.
Daniel O’Day, the CEO of Gilead Sciences, the company behind Yeztugo, called it “one of the most important scientific breakthroughs of our time.” He said this innovation could help finally end the HIV epidemic if made available to everyone who needs it.
How Lenacapavir Works
Lenacapavir is a new kind of medicine that targets the capsid, or outer shell, of the HIV virus. By interfering with this protective shell, the drug prevents the virus from multiplying inside the body. Because of this unique approach, lenacapavir remains effective for months at a time, which is why it only needs to be given twice a year.
In 2024, the journal Science named lenacapavir its “Breakthrough of the Year”, recognizing it as a major step forward in global health.
The medicine has been tested in two major clinical trials — both showing incredible results.
Results from Global Clinical Trials
The first large trial included over 2,000 women from sub-Saharan Africa, one of the regions most affected by HIV. Not a single participant contracted the virus during the study — a 100% success rate, which even surpassed the widely used prevention pill Truvada.
In the second trial, more than 2,000 men and gender-diverse individuals took part. Only two infections were reported, giving a 99.9% protection rate.
Doctors and scientists say these numbers are comparable to a vaccine, something that has remained impossible to achieve against HIV for decades.
The only reported side effects were mild injection site reactions, headaches, and nausea, which most patients tolerated well. Results from both trials were published in The New England Journal of Medicine, confirming the drug’s safety and effectiveness.
Why This Breakthrough Matters
For decades, HIV has claimed millions of lives. Even though antiretroviral treatments now allow people with HIV to live longer, the virus continues to spread, especially in developing countries.
Lenacapavir’s long-acting protection could make a huge difference, especially in areas where healthcare access is limited. With just two injections a year, people no longer have to remember daily doses — reducing human error and ensuring constant protection.
This could be a game-changer for young people, women, and communities most at risk.
Concerns Over Pricing and Accessibility
Despite the excitement, there’s growing concern about the cost of lenacapavir. Earlier HIV prevention injections like cabotegravir, approved in 2021, cost tens of thousands of dollars per year, which made them too expensive for most countries.
Gilead Sciences has not yet announced the official price of Yeztugo, but experts estimate it could cost around $25,000 per year in the United States. Currently, lenacapavir’s list price for its HIV treatment version is $39,000 annually, though it’s expected to be lower for preventive use.
However, activists and global health experts say that even this reduced price is far too high.
Dr. Andrew Hill from Liverpool University and his team found that the drug could be mass-produced for just $25 per person per year. “To charge one thousand times more for a medicine with pandemic-ending potential would be wrong,” said Winnie Byanyima, United Nations under-secretary-general.
Many global health organizations are urging Gilead to make the drug affordable so that low- and middle-income countries can access it and truly stop new HIV infections worldwide.
The Future of HIV Prevention
The approval of lenacapavir marks a historic moment in the ongoing fight against HIV. If made widely available, this drug could finally bring an end to the spread of HIV and save millions of lives in the coming decades.
But for that to happen, governments, healthcare agencies, and pharmaceutical companies must work together to make it affordable, accessible, and available in all regions — especially in countries with high infection rates.
Long-acting medicines like lenacapavir show what science can achieve when innovation and compassion come together. They remind us that ending a global epidemic is not only a scientific challenge — it’s also a moral responsibility.
Conclusion
The approval of lenacapavir is a shining example of what modern medicine can do. With just two injections a year and nearly 100% effectiveness, it could help millions live without fear of HIV infection.
To truly end the epidemic, though, the world must ensure that such lifesaving innovations are affordable for all, not just for the wealthy.
As research, awareness, and ethical production continue to advance, companies like DM Pharma Global are contributing to a safer and healthier future. By focusing on high-quality pharmaceutical standards and responsible manufacturing, DM Pharma Global stands as a symbol of trust and progress in a world that continues to fight for better healthcare for everyone.