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Twice a Year Could Change Everything

May 8, 2026
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We’ve come a long way in the fight against HIV/AIDS — but the fight isn’t over. Every so often, a breakthrough comes along that changes what’s possible. Lenacapavir is one of those breakthroughs.

What is lenacapavir?

Lenacapavir is a massive innovation: a twice-yearly injectable that shows nearly 100% effectiveness in preventing new HIV infections. For the first time, HIV prevention is moving beyond daily pills – a huge game-changer for communities most in need. 

Approved in 2025, lenacapavir is already being delivered across nine African countries through the Global Fund, where (RED) directs its funding. We are witnessing the fastest rollout of a global health medication in the developing world and a remarkable milestone with the potential to reshape the future of the fight against HIV.

Why it matters

Daily oral PrEP works, but for millions of people, adherence to treatment is difficult. Stigma, barriers to access, and the challenge of remembering a pill every day all stand in the way—disproportionately affecting key and priority populations.

When daily dosing schedule is disrupted, studies show that efficacy declines more quickly for women than for men. Lenacapavir could be especially transformative for women, youth, and other marginalized populations disproportionately affected by HIV, offering a highly effective and more discreet prevention option for those facing stigma, discrimination, or barriers to daily pill adherence.

Research consistently shows that the vast majority of people prefer a twice-yearly injectable over daily pills. And the impact of that preference is significant: reaching just 4% of the population in high-burden countries with Lenacapavir is projected to prevent up to 20% of new infections, helping reduce barriers to uptake and close critical gaps in prevention (Gilead).

Rollout

This month, the United States and the Global Fund announced an expanded commitment to scale access to Lenacapavir, aiming to reach an additional 1 million people over the next three years. Combined with the original commitment, this brings the total joint ambition to 3 million people reached by 2028 (The Global Fund).

We’ve made huge strides in the HIV/AIDS fight over the past 20 years. And with breakthroughs like lenacapavir, the end of the epidemic may finally be in sight.