UNAIDS officials in Pakistan say they are working with local pharmaceutical manufacturers to explore the possibility of producing lenacapavir, a long-acting HIV prevention medicine that can protect people at risk with just two injections a year.
A UNAIDS official in Pakistan said the agency is facilitating discussions with Pakistani drug makers and other stakeholders to map out options for future local production and broader access.
The official added that expanding access to newer HIV prevention tools could strengthen Pakistan’s response as the country continues to see infections rise in key populations.
Lenacapavir is a long-acting antiretroviral medicine used for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), a preventive treatment given to people who are HIV-negative but face higher risk of infection.
Unlike traditional PrEP tablets that need to be taken daily, lenacapavir is administered as an injection every six months, which public health experts say could help overcome one of the biggest hurdles in prevention: consistent daily adherence.
The medicine has drawn global attention after the World Health Organization’s Director-General, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, described it as a major step forward in HIV prevention at a media briefing on March 5.
He said it is not a vaccine, but framed it as the closest alternative so far, citing trial results showing very high effectiveness when taken on the six-month schedule.
Industry sources in Pakistan say several local manufacturers are considering the development of generic versions of lenacapavir, though progress depends on clearer regulatory and licensing pathways.
For now, Pakistan’s drug regulator says the medicine is not yet in the approval pipeline. Officials at the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) said they have not received any application to register lenacapavir or a generic equivalent.
A senior DRAP official said any future submission would be assessed for safety, quality, and efficacy under the standard review process.
Health experts say long-acting prevention options like lenacapavir could significantly improve HIV prevention programmes, especially for people who struggle to take daily medication consistently. However, some specialists caution that the injection is not a one-size-fits-all solution for Pakistan.
They point out that a substantial portion of HIV transmission in the country has been linked to unsafe medical practices, including reuse of contaminated syringes, unsafe IV drips, and transfusions involving unscreened blood, factors that have contributed to outbreaks in recent years, including cases affecting children.
Globally, WHO notes that AIDS-related deaths have dropped sharply over the past two decades due to effective treatment, and the same class of medicines has increasingly been used to prevent infections among people at risk.
WHO issued guidance for lenacapavir’s use last year and later granted it prequalification status, a step intended to make it easier for international donors to procure the medicine for low- and middle-income countries.
Public health specialists say if access expands, through procurement, licensing, or local manufacturing, long-acting HIV prevention tools could meaningfully strengthen both regional and global efforts to curb new infections.
