U.S. and Global Fund Expand Commitment to Long-Acting HIV Prevention as Country Rollout of Lenacapavir Accelerates
14 April 2026
GENEVA/WASHINGTON D.C. – The United States and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (the Global Fund) today announced an expanded commitment to scale up access to long-acting lenacapavir (LEN) for HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), aiming to reach an additional 1 million people over the next three years. Building on the original commitment, this brings the total joint ambition to 3 million people reached with LEN through 2028.
“This expanded commitment in partnership with the United States reflects both the scale of the opportunity and the urgency of the moment,” said Peter Sands, Executive Director of the Global Fund. “Long-acting lenacapavir could reshape HIV prevention by overcoming some of the structural challenges that have long constrained uptake. The task now is to translate scientific progress into broad, equitable access – at speed and at scale.”
LEN is a long-acting injectable for HIV prevention, administered twice a year, that has shown near 100% effectiveness in preventing new HIV infections in clinical trials. By offering a highly effective, discreet and user-friendly alternative to daily oral PrEP, LEN has the potential to significantly reduce new infections and transform prevention efforts.
This new milestone comes as countries begin rolling out LEN, marking a major step toward expanding access to a new generation of HIV prevention tools. Initial deliveries have reached nine African countries: Eswatini, Kenya, Lesotho, Mozambique, Nigeria, South Africa, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
As of today, Eswatini, Kenya, Lesotho, Nigeria, Zambia, and Zimbabwe have started their rollouts of LEN with the other early adopters commencing soon. Early program data indicate that uptake is particularly strong among priority populations, including pregnant and breastfeeding women, adolescent girls and young women, and people accessing PrEP for the first time – highlighting LEN’s potential to reach those not previously accessing prevention. Data continue to be collected and consolidated as programs scale up across countries.
Building on this momentum, the Global Fund has also extended support for LEN PrEP introduction to 12 additional countries: Benin, Botswana, Dominican Republic, Fiji, Georgia, Haiti, Honduras, Indonesia, Morocco, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda and Thailand – reflecting strong and growing global demand for long-acting HIV prevention options.
Gilead Sciences has granted voluntary licenses to several manufacturers to produce generic versions of LEN, helping to pave the way for expanded and more affordable supply. This milestone comes as the Global Fund launched a global call for Expressions of Interest (EOI) [ download in English ] from manufacturers to submit their LEN PrEP products for review by its Expert Review Panel – an important step to accelerating the availability of quality-assured generic products and expanding global supply capacity over the coming months. At the same time, early shipments of the original product continue to arrive in countries.
“This is a pivotal moment in the fight against HIV,” said Hui Yang, Head of Supply Operations at the Global Fund. “We are delighted that first deliveries have already been completed within our planned timelines across nine countries. This reflects strong collaboration across partners and a shared commitment to move quickly. By expanding our supplier base through both the original and generic manufacturers, we are working to ensure sustainable, affordable access at scale.”
Countries across multiple regions have expressed strong interest in introducing LEN as part of their HIV prevention strategies, reflecting demand for more discreet, long-acting options that can help overcome adherence challenges associated with daily oral PrEP.
“The level of country demand we are seeing is both encouraging and urgent,” said Mark Edington, Head of Grant Management at the Global Fund. “Countries recognize the transformative potential of LEN to reach populations that have not been adequately served by existing tools. Our focus now is on supporting rapid, responsible introduction – ensuring that programs are ready to deliver and communities can benefit as quickly as possible.”
The Global Fund is working closely with countries, partners and manufacturers to ensure that implementation is equitable, efficient and aligned with national strategies. Community-led organizations are playing a critical role in supporting rollout, building trust, raising awareness and driving uptake among populations most at risk. The organization aims to significantly scale up supply through a dual-track approach – supporting both the original product and accelerating the entry of quality-assured generics, with expanded availability expected as early as 2027.
Welcoming the rollout of LEN in Eswatini, the country’s Minister of Health, Mduduzi Matsebula, said: “Lenacapavir represents a breakthrough in HIV prevention, especially for communities that face barriers to daily treatment adherence. As one of the countries preparing for early introduction, Eswatini is committed to ensuring that this innovation reaches those who need it most. By expanding access to long-acting prevention, we aim to significantly reduce new HIV infections and accelerate progress towards eliminating HIV as a public health threat. We value the Global Fund and United States partnership in helping us move quickly and effectively.”
Today’s announcement underscores the Global Fund’s commitment to accelerating access to innovative health technologies and ensuring that lifesaving tools reach communities most affected by HIV. This effort is made possible through strong partnerships, including with the United States and the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF), which are helping to expand access to this breakthrough prevention tool.