Beyond Daily Pills- WHO Backs New Long-Acting HIV Prevention Injection
Image: This photograph taken on July 3, 2020, shows a sign of the World Health Organization (WHO) at their headquarters in Geneva, amidst the COVID-19 outbreak, caused by the novel coronavirus. (Photo by Fabrice COFFRINI / AFP) (Photo by FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP via Getty Images)The World Health Organization (WHO) has released groundbreaking new guidelines recommending the use of injectable lenacapavir (LEN) twice a year as an additional pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) option for HIV prevention. This recommendation marks a landmark policy action poised to significantly reshape the global HIV response.
Lenacapavir, recognized as the first twice-yearly injectable PrEP product, offers a highly effective and long-acting alternative to daily oral pills and other shorter-acting prevention methods. With just two doses per year, LEN represents a transformative step forward in protecting individuals at risk of HIV, particularly those who encounter difficulties with daily medication adherence, face significant stigma, or have limited access to consistent health care.
Speaking at the 13th International AIDS Society Conference (IAS 2025) on HIV Science in Kigali, Rwanda, where the guidelines were issued, WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasized the importance of this development. He stated that while an HIV vaccine remains elusive, lenacapavir stands as “the next best thing: a long-acting antiretroviral shown in trials to prevent almost all HIV infections among those at risk.”
Dr. Tedros further articulated WHO’s commitment:
“The launch of WHO’s new guidelines, alongside the FDA’s recent approval, marks a critical step forward in expanding access to this powerful tool. WHO is committed to working with countries and partners to ensure this innovation reaches communities as quickly and safely as possible.”
The issuance of these new guidelines comes at a critical juncture, as global HIV prevention efforts have shown signs of stagnation, with an alarming 1.3 million new HIV infections occurring in 2024. This impact is disproportionately felt among key and priority populations, including sex workers, men who have sex with men, transgender people, people who inject drugs, people in prisons, and children and adolescents. WHO’s recommendation on LEN signals a decisive move to expand and diversify HIV prevention strategies, providing individuals with more practical options to take control over their health with choices that better integrate into their daily lives.
