South Africa Stocks Anti-HIV Injection at 360 Clinics in Six Provinces

South Africa has placed the six-monthly anti-HIV injection at 360 government clinics across six provinces for free distribution. The provinces are Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, the Eastern Cape, Mpumalanga, North West and the Western Cape. The injection, known as lenacapavir or LEN, prevents HIV transmission through sex and requires two doses per year.

Health department lists identify the participating clinics.

The Northern Cape, Limpopo and the Free State are scheduled to receive supplies in 2027 after generic versions become available. South Africa has so far received 115 320 doses of the branded product manufactured by Gilead Sciences. Deliveries arrived on 30 March, 2 April and 7 April, funded by a grant from the Global Fund to Fight Aids, TB and Malaria.

A fourth shipment of 57 600 doses is expected on 15 June.

At least one Indian manufacturer has applied for registration with South Africa's medicines regulator. The regulator plans to complete the review within 180 working days. Samples from each shipment undergo quality testing at a laboratory in Ireland because no accredited South African facility is currently available. The first batch has cleared testing; the April delivery remains under review.

Wits scientists indicates that between one and two million people would need the injection annually through 2043 to reduce new infections to 0.1 percent. The country would require 18 to 36 million doses over that period. The Global Fund has committed just under one million branded doses, sufficient for 456 360 people over two years.

The South African National Aids Council has received proposals from local firms to manufacture the medicine and will submit a shortlist to Gilead by the end of June.