The drug, developed by U.S. pharmaceutical firm Gilead Sciences, is administered just twice a year and has shown 99.9% effectiveness in global trials.
Speaking to RBA, Dr. Ikuzo said if all goes as planned, the injection will offer a longer-lasting and less burdensome alternative to the current daily pills and two-monthly shots already available in the country.
Clinical trials for Lenacapavir Yeztugo have shown promising results. Phase III studies in South Africa and Uganda involved over 5,000 adolescent girls and young women aged 16 to 24, with no HIV infections reported among those who received the drug.
Further trials in countries including the U.S., Brazil, and Mexico targeted high-risk groups such as men who have sex with men and transgender individuals, where the drug also demonstrated high levels of protection.
Currently, Rwanda provides two main types of HIV prevention medication: a daily oral pill and a bimonthly injection now being rolled out in Kigali. The new biannual shot is expected to reduce the frequency of medication and improve adherence, especially for key populations at high risk of HIV.
'This new option will ease the stress of daily pills or six injections a year,' Dr. Ikuzo said. 'If everything goes well, we plan to begin rollout next year.'
Currently, HIV prevention services are prioritised for groups with the highest risk of infection â€" including young people, sex workers, men who have sex with men, and discordant couples. These groups will also be prioritised for the new drug, which will initially be offered free of charge.
Dr. Ikuzo noted that Rwanda may eventually explore subsidised models to allow broader access as the country strengthens domestic health financing. Global partners such as the Global Fund and the Children's Investment Fund Foundation have pledged support for the early rollout in nine countries, including Rwanda.
While HIV treatment coverage among adults in Rwanda stands at 97%, only 80% of HIV-positive children aged 0â€"14 are receiving treatment. However, prevention of mother-to-child transmission has made major gains, with 99% of babies born to HIV-positive mothers testing negative by age two.
Dr. Ikuzo also warned against religious claims of miraculous HIV cures, explaining that while some patients achieve undetectable viral loads through consistent treatment, this does not mean they are cured.
'There is no vaccine or cure for HIV,' he said. 'Some may test negative due to viral suppression, but the virus remains in the body.'
He stressed the importance of continued protection during sex, even when a partner is virally suppressed, since such status is not always known or verifiable.
In Rwanda, about 3,200 people contract HIV each year, while 2,600 die from AIDS-related illnesses. Thanks to sustained prevention and treatment efforts, the country has seen an 82% drop in new infections and an 86% decline in HIV-related deaths over the past decade.
IGIHE
Source : https://en.igihe.com/news/article/rwanda-targets-2026-rollout-of-biannual-hiv-prevention-drug
