A new HIV prevention injection that is administered just once every six months has been officially approved for use in South Africa. The injection, called Lenacapavir (LEN), was tested in large clinical studies, and according to national health authorities, these trials showed that the injection is highly effective as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) when administered every six months.
As it only needs to be given twice per year, Lenacapavir has the potential to make HIV prevention much easier, especially for people who find daily pills hard to stick with.
What this means for you
This new injection gives people another option to help prevent HIV. If you are HIV-negative and at risk of HIV, you could get one injection every six months. This is especially helpful if you struggle to take pills every day, and want a more private and convenient option.
Important: This injection is for HIV prevention, not HIV treatment. People living with HIV should continue taking their prescribed antiretroviral treatment (ART). If rolled out widely and made affordable, this injection could change the future of HIV prevention.
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