PAHO makes long-acting HIV prevention accessible to fourteen countries in the region
The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has concluded an agreement with pharmaceutical company Gilead Sciences to expand access to lenacapavir for HIV prevention in Latin America and the Caribbean. Fourteen countries can procure the long-acting medicine through PAHO’s regional funds. Suriname is not currently among this group.
Lenacapavir is an injectable medicine for pre-exposure prophylaxis, better known as PrEP. The injection only needs to be administered twice a year, making it an alternative for people who have difficulty with prevention methods that need to be used more frequently.
The World Health Organization recommended lenacapavir in 2025 as an additional option to prevent HIV infections. According to PAHO, clinical studies showed effectiveness of nearly 100 percent in preventing HIV.
140,000 new infections annually
Around 140,000 new HIV infections are diagnosed annually in Latin America and the Caribbean. PAHO states that the availability of different prevention methods is important in order to better meet people’s needs and preferences.
Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela can purchase lenacapavir through PAHO’s regional funds.
The actual introduction depends on national approval procedures, medical guidelines, the training of healthcare providers and the preparation of healthcare services in the participating countries.
“The Americas have increasingly effective tools to prevent HIV, but these innovations only have an impact when they reach the people who need them,” says PAHO Director Jarbas Barbosa.
Possible production in Brazil
As part of the agreement, Gilead has pledged to explore a technology transfer to Brazil. The aim is to potentially produce lenacapavir locally in the future.
The development of this process is still in a preparatory phase. A schedule and specific production method have not yet been determined. According to PAHO, regional production could, in the longer term, contribute to greater availability and more sustainable procurement conditions.
PAHO supports countries, among other things, in determining needs, developing guidelines, monitoring and preparing their healthcare systems.
Lenacapavir will be added to existing prevention methods, including daily or on-demand oral PrEP, long-acting cabotegravir and condoms. Early diagnosis and timely access to antiretroviral treatment also remain important, according to PAHO, in reducing the number of new HIV infections.
