The Uganda National Drug Authority (UNDA) has approved Lenacapavir, a twice-yearly dose Pre- Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) as the country steps up it’s efforts to curb the spread of the HIV Virus in the country.
In a statement released on Monday, the UNDA noted that the drug manufactured by Gilead, a USA based company is a game-changer for HIV prevention, especially for those at high risk and is line with the country’s goal of ending AIDS by 2030.
In June last year, the Uganda Aids Commission revealed plans to introduce the use of the six month lenacapavir injection after research successfully established that the six- monthly injection offers 100 percent protection to HIV negative individuals against acquiring HIV.
At the time, the commission noted that following the US Food and Drug Administration approval of its production and use, the innovative HIV Prevention tool will be made available in Uganda after close consultations with stake holders and compliance with the minimum requirements.
Following it’s approval on Monday, Lenacapavir will be integrated into Uganda’s HIV Prevention program.
However the National Drug Authority has given a specific date when the injection will be rolled out for public use.
The new medicine is administered by injection once every six months and represents a major improvement in prevention options for people at risk of HIV infection worldwide.
In an interview, Gilead Sciences announced a U.S. list price of $28,218 (UGX 101,574,641) per person per year.
However, a research paper published this week in The Lancet HIV found that generic lenacapavir could cost between $35 (UGX 12,598) and $46 (UGX 165,583) per person per year.
The cost could fall further to $25 (UGX 89,991) per person per year if there is committed demand of five to ten million people within the first year, bringing the price in line with—or even lower than—current oral PrEP.
