Unitaid, CHAI, Wits RHI, and pharmaceutical company Dr. Reddy’s have signed an agreement aimed at ensuring access to injectable lenacapavir for HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in 120 low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) starting in 2027. The annual cost of the drug will be just $40, with the initial oral lead-in regimen priced at no more than $17.

The agreement includes financial, technical, and regulatory support for Dr. Reddy’s to accelerate the production of a high-quality generic version of lenacapavir.

As part of a broader strategy to build a sustainable and competitive market for injectable PrEP, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has also joined the initiative. The foundation has signed a separate agreement with another licensed manufacturer, Hetero, to further ensure affordable pricing, reliable supply, and global scalability.

In October 2024, Gilead granted voluntary licenses to six generic manufacturers, including Dr. Reddy’s, for the supply of lenacapavir across the 120 LMICs. In addition, PEPFAR, the Global Fund, and the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF) have already committed to procuring lenacapavir for up to 2 million people in these countries.

Lenacapavir is an innovative PrEP option administered only twice a year. The drug has already been approved by the FDA and the European Commission, and in July 2025, it was included in the World Health Organization’s global HIV prevention guidelines.