Once-monthly HIV prevention pill: How it could change fight against the virus

Taking an HIV prevention pill every day can be difficult for some people. Forgetting doses, worrying about stigma or simply finding a daily routine hard to maintain can affect how consistently people use oral PrEP.

Amid the fight against the HIV virus, scientists are therefore working on prevention options that require fewer doses.

One of these is a once-monthly oral HIV prevention pill called alimatravir, also known as MK-8527.

As of August 2026, UNAIDS announced that the drug was undergoing Phase 3 clinical trials.

Kenya has been selected among three African countries to manufacture alimatravir, the new monthly HIV prevention pill, marking the first time African manufacturers will be involved in licensing an HIV medicine from the beginning of the process.

The drug will be produced by Universal Corporation under a royalty-free licence covering 129 low- and middle-income countries, with production expected to begin if ongoing clinical trials confirm its effectiveness next year.

Medical Services Principal Secretary Ouma Oluga confirmed the development, stating, “Very pleased to have brought this achievement home from the just concluded UNGA 81 making local manufacturing of drugs no longer a talk but a reality.”

“An oral monthly pill to prevent HIV, alimatravir (also known as MK-8527), produced by Merck Sharp & Dohme (MSD), is currently undergoing promising phase three trials. If the trials are successful, this development could provide another tool in the HIV prevention toolbox and a positive step towards ending AIDS,” UNAIDS announced.

If the trials are successful and regulators approve it, a monthly pill could give people another way to protect themselves against HIV.

It could make PrEP easier to remember

A daily pill requires people to remember their medication every day.

A monthly option would reduce the number of times someone has to take the medicine, potentially making it easier for some people to maintain their prevention routine.

However, monthly dosing would still require people to remember when their next dose is due. It would not remove the need for regular HIV testing and medical follow-up.

It could give people more choice

HIV prevention is not one-size-fits-all.

WHO currently recommends several PrEP options, including daily oral PrEP, the dapivirine vaginal ring, long-acting injectable cabotegravir and twice-yearly injectable lenacapavir.

Adding a monthly oral option could allow people to choose a method that fits their lifestyle and preferences.

For some, taking a pill may feel more convenient than receiving an injection. Others may prefer a long-acting injection because they do not have to think about prevention as frequently.

It could help address some adherence challenges

Taking PrEP consistently is important because the medicine needs to be present in the body at protective levels.

UNAIDS has identified daily adherence and access as some of the challenges that can affect the use of existing HIV prevention methods. A longer-acting oral option could potentially help people who find daily medication difficult to maintain.

However, researchers still need to establish how well the monthly pill works and how safe it is through clinical trials.

It could be important for young people and communities at higher risk

New HIV prevention options could be particularly relevant for people who face barriers to existing prevention services.

UNAIDS reported that adolescent girls and young women in sub-Saharan Africa continue to experience a significant burden of new HIV infections. In 2025, about 3,100 adolescent girls and young women acquired HIV each week in the region.

A prevention method that requires fewer doses could give some people another practical option, provided it is proven safe, effective and made accessible.

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