The announcement was made during a virtual media briefing where the Director-General of the WHO, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, addressed a range of global health priorities, including HIV prevention, advances in obesity treatment and progress toward eliminating cervical cancer.
According to him, lenacapavir, approved in 2025 for HIV prevention, represents the most important development in the fight against HIV since the first antiretroviral treatments became available nearly four decades ago. He noted that although HIV has been one of the defining public health challenges of the past 50 years, it has also become a notable success story in disease control.
Over the years, major improvements in treatment and expanded access to antiretroviral medicines have transformed HIV from what was once widely regarded as a death sentence into a manageable health condition. Millions of people living with the virus are now able to live longer and healthier lives as a result of sustained treatment programmes.
Global progress has also been reflected in mortality figures. The WHO chief said deaths related to AIDS have fallen sharply, declining by about 70 per cent over the past two decades as treatment coverage improved worldwide.
A New Tool for HIV Prevention
Lenacapavir introduces a new approach to preventing HIV infections, particularly among populations considered to be at high risk. Unlike traditional daily preventive medicines, the drug is administered as a long-acting injection only once every six months.
Although it is not a vaccine, the antiretroviral medication works by preventing the virus from establishing infection in people who are HIV-negative but vulnerable to exposure. Clinical trials have demonstrated that the drug can prevent almost all HIV infections among individuals who receive it consistently, making it one of the most promising prevention tools currently available.
The WHO issued official guidelines for the use of lenacapavir in July 2025 and granted the drug prequalification status in October of the same year. This approval allows global health organisations and donors to procure and distribute the medication more easily.
In a move aimed at speeding up access, the WHO developed treatment guidelines and prequalification simultaneously rather than through its usual sequential process. Health officials say this approach helped reduce delays and enabled countries to begin preparations for rollout much earlier.
Rollout Across African Countries
Within eight months of the approvals, the WHO supported the introduction of lenacapavir in several African countries, including Eswatini, Kenya, Lesotho, Mozambique, Nigeria, South Africa, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
South Africa played a leading role in the early adoption of the drug. The country became the first in Africa—and only the third worldwide—to approve lenacapavir for HIV prevention in October 2025. During his 2025 State of the Nation address, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa announced plans for a large-scale rollout of the medication.
The country has also announced plans to manufacture the drug locally, a move expected to strengthen supply chains and improve access across the region.
Rising Demand for the Medicine
Despite the promising rollout, the WHO warned that demand for lenacapavir is already exceeding current supply levels. Orders placed through global donors have not yet matched the growing demand from countries preparing to introduce the medicine into national HIV prevention programmes.
The organisation said it is working with governments, international partners and pharmaceutical manufacturers to increase production capacity and ensure that sufficient quantities reach countries that need them most.
Progress in HPV Vaccination
Beyond HIV prevention, the WHO also highlighted progress in efforts to eliminate cervical cancer, particularly through the expansion of vaccination against the human papillomavirus (HPV).
The remarks coincided with HPV Awareness Day, which is marked annually to raise awareness about viruses responsible for several cancers, including cervical cancer. The campaign this year was held under the theme “One Less Worry.”
The global push to eliminate cervical cancer gained momentum after the WHO launched a call for action in 2018, followed by a comprehensive strategy in 2020. The plan aims to achieve 90 per cent HPV vaccination coverage, 90 per cent screening for cervical cancer, and ensure that 90 per cent of women diagnosed with the disease or precancerous lesions receive treatment by 2030.
So far, nearly 60 countries have introduced HPV vaccination programmes as part of the initiative, while 162 countries have incorporated the vaccine into their national immunisation schedules.
Significant progress has been reported in countries such as India and South Africa, where large-scale vaccination campaigns are underway.
In February, India launched what health officials described as the largest free HPV vaccination drive in history, targeting nearly 12 million 14-year-old girls each year in an effort to protect them from cervical cancer. According to global health estimates, more than 127,000 women in the country are diagnosed with cervical cancer annually, while about 80,000 die from the disease each year.
Health authorities say the combined efforts in HIV prevention and HPV vaccination reflect growing momentum in global public health initiatives aimed at reducing preventable diseases and improving long-term health outcomes worldwide.