The first individuals in South Africa have begun using Lenacapavir for HIV prevention in South Africa as part of a study funded by Unitaid led by Wits Reproductive Health and HIV Institute.

These achievements occur in record time, just 5 months after lenacapavir was first approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for HIV prevention, making it among the first real-world use of the 6-monthly injectable in low-and middle-income countries.With an injection under the skin every six months, lenacapavir was shown in clinical trials to be safe and nearly 100% effective at preventing HIV.

Lulu Gaboo spoke to Dr Catherine Martin  a Senior Technical Specialist at Wits RHI.