A new injectable HIV prevention drug could sharply reduce new infections worldwide, but experts at the Aids 2026 Conference in Rio de Janeiro warn that US foreign aid cuts will prevent the people who most need it from accessing the medication.
Key facts
- Experts at the Aids 2026 Conference in Rio de Janeiro say new HIV prevention innovations could dramatically reduce new cases globally.
- US foreign aid cuts will leave those most in need unable to access the new medication, according to experts.
- The WHO recommended one year ago that governments prioritize expanded access to lenacapavir, an injectable PrEP requiring only two injections annually.
- PrEP is 99% effective at preventing sexually transmitted HIV when taken consistently.
- Investment in HIV prevention has declined dramatically worldwide.
New innovations in HIV prevention could dramatically reduce the number of new HIV cases around the world, but US foreign aid cuts mean that those who most need the new medication will be unable to access it, according to experts speaking at the Aids 2026 Conference in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the Guardian reports.
At the center of the discussion is lenacapavir, an injectable version of the HIV prevention medication PrEP. One year ago, the World Health Organization recommended that governments around the world prioritize expanded access to the drug, which requires only two injections annually.
PrEP is 99% effective in preventing sexually transmitted HIV for people who take it consistently, according to the Guardian. In addition to the new injectable option, the medication also comes in the form of daily oral pills and bimonthly injections.
Despite the promise of these tools, experts said investment in HIV prevention has declined dramatically worldwide. The combination of reduced funding and cuts to US foreign aid, they warned, threatens to keep the most effective prevention options out of reach for the populations that need them most.
The concern reflects a gap between scientific progress and delivery: while the medical means to sharply reduce new infections increasingly exist, the funding and distribution systems required to get them to at-risk communities are under strain.
Why it matters
HIV prevention tools like lenacapavir offer the potential to significantly cut new infections globally, but their impact depends on whether people can actually access them. Experts warn that declining investment and US foreign aid cuts could leave the highest-risk communities without a proven, near-total protection against the virus.
Frequently asked questions
What is lenacapavir?
Lenacapavir is an injectable version of the HIV prevention medication PrEP that requires only two injections per year. The World Health Organization recommended one year ago that governments prioritize expanded access to it.
How effective is PrEP at preventing HIV?
According to the Guardian, PrEP is 99% effective in preventing sexually transmitted HIV for people who take it consistently. It is available as daily oral medication, bimonthly injections, and the new twice-yearly injectable lenacapavir.
Why might people not be able to access the new HIV drug?
Experts at the Aids 2026 Conference say US foreign aid cuts and a dramatic worldwide decline in HIV prevention investment mean that the people who most need the new medication will be unable to access it.