Gilead Sciences’ long-acting HIV prevention drug, lenacapavir, could soon be produced in South Africa as the government pushes to expand regional manufacturing and improve access to the therapy.

The South African government is working with global health organisations, including Unitaid and the United States Pharmacopeia, to identify a domestic pharmaceutical company capable of producing the twice-yearly injectable drug safely and at scale. The initiative aims to strengthen supply chains and ensure affordable access to the medicine in regions most affected by HIV.

Lenacapavir has drawn global attention as a long-acting prevention option that requires only two injections a year, offering a potentially transformative tool in the fight against HIV. South Africa, which has the world’s largest HIV-positive population at around 8 million people, is keen to accelerate availability of the drug locally.

In 2024, Gilead granted voluntary licences to six manufacturers in countries including India, Egypt and Pakistan to supply the drug to low- and middle-income markets. However, South African firms were not included in that arrangement, prompting calls for local participation in manufacturing.

Authorities are now exploring the possibility of adding a South African manufacturer as an additional licensee. If approved, the move could strengthen regional production capacity and improve access to the drug across Africa and other underserved markets.