South Africa has become the first African country and our medicines regulator the third worldwide to register the revolutionary twice-a-year anti-HIV jab, lenacapavir LEN.
The shot could bring an end to Aids if enough people take it.
The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority, Sahpra, approved LEN on October 21.
The jab, which the health department could start rolling out as early as February, is almost full-proof protection for HIV-negative people who weigh 35kg or more against getting HIV through sex.
LENs maker, Gilead Sciences, hasnt yet announced a price for its drug for either the public or private sector in South Africa. But the health department is getting doses for 464 360 people from the Global Fund for HIV, TB and Malaria.
Intodays newsletter, Mia Malan explains how Sahpra registered LEN within 65 days, how it works and how it will get distributed.Sign up for our newsletter today.
South Africa has become the first African country and our medicines regulator the third worldwide to register the revolutionary twice-a-year anti-HIV jab, lenacapavir LEN, that could bring an end to Aids if enough people take it.
The United States Food and Drug Administration registered LEN, which is injected into the fat under someones skin once every six months, in June, under the name Yeztugo and the European Medicines Agency EMA approved it in July as Yeytuo.