September 5, 2025
Friends applauds PEPFAR’s commitment to expand access to lenacapavir
Below is a statement from Friends President and CEO Chris Collins on PEPFAR’s recent announcement that it will bring lenacapavir to market in high-burden HIV countries:
“I applaud PEPFAR for its commitment to partnering with high-burden HIV countries to co-develop strategies for distributing the twice-yearly HIV prevention shot lenacapavir (LEN). Making this American breakthrough innovation more accessible around the world could save hundreds of thousands of lives. Partnering with the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria will ensure the most efficient and effective distribution to those with the greatest need. Our recent report on the future of a sustainable HIV response found that scaling up LEN is central to driving down the HIV incidence rate and enabling countries to eventually take the lead in their HIV responses. LEN, along with other long-acting prevention options including CAB-LA and future innovations, and continued scale up of HIV treatment, could be a gamechanger combination in the global HIV response.”