With lenacapavir, it is enough to have an injection twice a year. This way you are protected for 365 days. For many, this sounds almost like an HIV vaccination, but it is a modern form of HIV PrEP.
How does lenacapavir work?
Lenacapavir belongs to a new class of active substances that block the virus at its envelope. If the injection is given under the skin every six months, the active ingredient is permanently active in the body. In the event of HIV contact, it prevents the virus from spreading in the body.
HIV PrEP rethought
The Hiv-Prep drug with the active ingredient emtricitabine/tenofovir disoproxil is currently considered the standard. Lenacapavir is now available as an alternative:
only two injections a year instead of taking HIV PrEP tablets every day. For some, this is easier, safer and closer to the idea of HIV immunisation.
Price and availability
In the USA, the lenacapavir syringe currently costs over 28,000 dollars per year. Whether and when it will be available in Germany depends on price and reimbursement issues. In comparison: classic HIV PrEP with tablets costs around 600-840 euros per year here.
Hope worldwide
If lenacapavir were produced as a generic, the price could fall sharply - to around 25 dollars per syringe. This new form of HIV PrEP could therefore be a real game changer, especially in regions with high prevalence.
Conclusion
With lenacapavir, a new chapter in HIV prevention is approaching: just two injections a year for 365 days of protection.
Questions and answers?
Lenacapavir is seen as a beacon of hope for HIV prevention. Instead of taking tablets every day, one injection every six months is sufficient. But how exactly does the drug work? Who is behind it and how effective is it really? The most important questions and answers at a glance:
Lenacapavir is marketed by the US pharmaceutical company Gilead Sciences developed. It is a leading manufacturer in the field of HIV prevention and therapy.
Lenacapavir blocks the Capsid (the viral envelope) of HIV - a new mechanism of action. This prevents the virus from replicating in the body, even if it has entered.
For HIV prevention (PrEP), lenacapavir is used as a subcutaneous injection (under the skin) - once every six months.
Initial results show a Very high protective effect - In clinical trials, correctly administered injections resulted in no HIV infection. Especially in cis-male and trans-female persons who have sex with men, the protective effect was almost 100 %.
Yes, lenacapavir was approved in the USA in the year 2024 under the name "Sunlenca" for the treatment of HIV authorised. For PrEP it has been 2025 as "Yeztugo" authorised in the USA. In the EU, it was authorised by the EMA (European Medicines Agency) in August 2025.
Lenacapavir has been in clinical development for several years. The decisive Phase III studies on PrEP (PURPOSE 1 and PURPOSE 2) began around 2021 and were completed in 2024/25 with convincing results.
No. Lenacapavir protects only from HIVbut not against other sexually transmitted infections (such as syphilis, gonorrhoea or chlamydia). Condoms remain important for comprehensive protection.
