Revolutionary HIV injection priced at Ksh5,000 to hit Kenya soon
By Steve Ireri, September 26, 2025Millions of Kenyans at risk of HIV infection could soon access a groundbreaking prevention tool at an affordable cost of just Ksh5,000 per year, following a new partnership announced by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
The deal, unveiled in New York on Wednesday, September 24, 2025, will see the Gates Foundation partner with Indian pharmaceutical manufacturer Hetero Labs to produce a low-cost generic version of lenacapavir, the world’s first twice-yearly injectable HIV prevention drug.
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Under the agreement, the cost of the injection will be reduced to around $40 per patient annually, equivalent to Ksh5,100, making it significantly more affordable for countries with high HIV prevalence, such as Kenya.
“A new partnership announced today between the Gates Foundation and Indian manufacturer Hetero Labs (Hetero)—supported by upfront funding and volume guarantees—will enable the company to manufacture generic lenacapavir at roughly $40 per patient per year (after a short pre-treatment oral regimen), a price point designed to make the breakthrough treatment affordable for national health systems,” Gates Foundation noted in their presser.
The injectable drug, approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in June and by the European Commission in August, provides six months of protection with a single shot.
The foundation hailed it as a game-changer, especially for communities that struggle with the daily burden and stigma of taking oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP).
The Gates Foundation also said the partnership will not only slash costs but also accelerate access in low- and middle-income countries, with a large-scale supply of the generic drug expected as early as 2027, subject to regulatory approvals.
“Scientific advances like lenacapavir can help us end the HIV epidemic—if they are made accessible to people who can benefit from them the most,” said Trevor Mundel, president of global health at the Gates Foundation.
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Kenya, which continues to grapple with high infection rates, is among the countries set to benefit.
According to UNAIDS, more than 1.4 million Kenyans are living with HIV, and nearly 20,000 people still die each year due to HIV-related complications despite progress in treatment.
The foundation noted that scaling up access to lenacapavir to even 4 per cent of the population in high-burden countries could prevent up to 20 per cent of new infections.
With Kenya identified as a priority country for HIV prevention programmes, the new jab is expected to play a critical role in reducing infections, particularly among young people and marginalised groups.
“In fact, one study showed that scaling up access to affordable lenacapavir to just 4% of the population in high-burden countries could prevent up to 20% of new infections. That potential drives the urgency of this investment,” they added.