The Ministry of Health and Social Services says Namibia has not yet approved the use of lenacapavir, a twice-yearly injectable medication for prevention and treatment of HIV, due to its high global market price.

Ministry spokesperson Walters Kamaya said Namibia recognises the potential of lenacapavir as a long-acting HIV prevention option that could help address adherence challenges linked to current pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) regimens.

However, Kamaya said the medication’s current cost, with a US list price of more than $28,218 (about N$528,000) per person per year announced by manufacturer Gilead Sciences, is far above levels that would allow for sustainable procurement and rollout in the national HIV programme.

“The Ministry is aware of lenacapavir as a long-acting injectable and is currently monitoring its price, which remains unclear on the market, particularly for low- and middle-income countries,” Kamaya said. 

Kamaya further said, “This does not mean Namibia has rejected the medication, but it has not yet been approved for use in the country.”

According to Kamaya, a study published in The Lancet HIV estimated that generic lenacapavir could cost $35 (about N$655) to $46 (about N$861) per person per year, and as low as $25 (about N$468) with large-scale demand, but no generic is currently available.

Kamaya said the ministry is engaging with global platforms and coalitions to monitor pricing and availability. 

“Just as other commodities have been integrated into HIV prevention strategies, the same approach will apply to lenacapavir once it becomes feasible for implementation,” he said.

Lenacapavir has already been approved for HIV prevention use by regulators in the United States and the European Union. 

In Africa, rollout plans are underway in Kenya, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Nigeria, South Africa, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, with distribution expected to begin in 2026.