{
  "id": 9298751,
  "title": "SPOTLIGHT: Is Aspen right to abandon lenacapavir for an unproven HIV prevention pill?",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/23/spotlight-is-aspen-right-to-abandon-lenacapavir-for-an-unproven-hiv",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-09-23T08:14:41.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Daily Maverick",
    "slug": "daily-maverick",
    "url": "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-09-23-is-aspen-right-to-abandon-lenacapavir-for-an-unproven-hiv-prevention-pill/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Aspen Pharmacare has decided to stop producing the lenacapavir HIV prevention injection, instead concentrating on developing an experimental oral HIV prevention pill called alimatravir. Until 2020, South Africa's sole approved HIV prevention method was daily use of tenofovir tablets, along with condoms and circumcision. However, three additional HIV prevention drugs have since been approved in the country, including the six-month lenacapavir injection, the two-month cabotegravir injection, and the one-month dapivirine vaginal ring. More products, such as another lenacapavir formulation and alimatravir, are currently in advanced clinical trials.\n\nDespite the potential of these new HIV prevention treatments, their adoption in South Africa and globally has lagged behind expectations. Only about 350,000 people in South Africa are using HIV prevention tablets, while roughly 60,000 have started taking the twice-yearly lenacapavir injections. The low usage is due to both cost and availability issues. HIV prevention tablets cost the health department around $40 annually, while lenacapavir injections cost $160 per person per year. Gilead Sciences, the only producer of the lenacapavir jab, has a deal with the Global Fund to subsidize its cost for South African public facilities.\n\nA new HIV prevention pill, alimatravir, is generating excitement due to its potential to be produced at a very low cost of $3 per person per year. Although its safety and efficacy have not been fully confirmed, two ongoing Phase 3 clinical trials are expected to provide conclusive results by 2027. Alimatravir is already being produced by several companies licensed for generic versions. Aspen Pharmacare, along with six other firms, is set to produce alimatrivir, potentially marking the world's cheapest HIV prevention drug.",
  "summary": "Aspen Pharmacare has announced that it will not be manufacturing the lenacapavir HIV prevention injection, and that it will instead focus on producing alimatravir, an experimental HIV prevention pill.",
  "key_points": [
    "Aspen stops producing lenacapavir injection, shifts focus to alimatravir",
    "Alimatravir oral pill could be world's cheapest HIV prevention drug at $3/year",
    "Two Phase 3 trials expected to confirm alimatravir's safety and efficacy by 2027"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}