For more than four decades, scientists have searched for ways to end the HIV epidemic. While a cure for HIV/AIDS remains elusive, medical researchers have made remarkable progress in preventing new infections.

One of the most exciting developments is Lenacapavir, a long-acting HIV prevention medication that has the potential to transform how people protect themselves against HIV.

Marketed as Yeztugo® for HIV prevention and Sunlenca® for certain HIV treatment applications, Lenacapavir represents a major step forward in the fight against HIV.

What Is Lenacapavir?

Lenacapavir is not a vaccine and it is not a cure for HIV.

Instead, it is a long-acting form of Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) designed to help prevent HIV infection in people who are HIV-negative.

Unlike traditional PrEP tablets that need to be taken every day, Lenacapavir offers protection with just two injections per year.

Treatment begins with two subcutaneous injections administered on the same day, followed by oral tablets taken on the first and second day. Thereafter, individuals receive repeat injections every six months.

Clinical studies have shown that when taken as prescribed, Lenacapavir provides extremely high levels of protection against sexually acquired HIV infection, with more than 99.9% of participants in clinical trials remaining HIV-negative.

How Does Lenacapavir Work?

Lenacapavir belongs to a class of medications known as capsid inhibitors.

The capsid is the protective shell that surrounds HIV’s genetic material. Lenacapavir disrupts the capsid at several stages of the virus’s life cycle, preventing HIV from establishing infection inside the body’s cells.

The medication is primarily designed to prevent infection with HIV-1, the strain responsible for the vast majority of HIV infections worldwide.

Can Lenacapavir Treat HIV?

Lenacapavir is currently approved as a prevention medication and should not be considered a cure for HIV.

However, the drug has also been studied as part of treatment regimens for people living with HIV, particularly those with multidrug-resistant virus strains. Researchers continue to investigate its role in HIV treatment strategies.

Does Lenacapavir Protect Against Other STIs?

No.

Although Lenacapavir offers powerful protection against HIV, it does not prevent other sexually transmitted infections such as:

• Chlamydia
• Gonorrhoea
• Syphilis
• Herpes
• HPV
• Hepatitis B

For this reason, healthcare professionals still recommend using condoms and practising safer sex behaviours alongside PrEP.

Regular STI testing also remains an important part of maintaining sexual health.

What Does This Mean for South Africa?

South Africa continues to carry one of the world’s largest HIV burdens, with an estimated 8.2 million people living with HIV.

Millions of South Africans rely on antiretroviral therapy (ARVs) to maintain their health, and preventing new infections remains a national priority.

Lenacapavir has the potential to significantly reduce new HIV infections, particularly for people who struggle to remember daily medication or who prefer a more discreet prevention option.

However, access to Lenacapavir is expected to expand gradually, and it is unlikely to replace existing HIV prevention strategies overnight.

A Major Breakthrough, But Not the End of HIV

Lenacapavir is one of the most significant advances in HIV prevention in decades.

It offers people a highly effective, long-acting alternative to daily PrEP pills and may help reduce barriers associated with adherence, stigma and access to care.

But it is important to remember that Lenacapavir is not a vaccine and it is not a cure.

Until an HIV cure becomes a reality, condoms, routine HIV testing, regular STI screening and informed sexual health choices remain essential tools in protecting ourselves and our communities.

The fight against HIV is not over, but innovations like Lenacapavir show that we are moving closer than ever to a future with fewer infections and healthier lives.