Top virology researchers at MUT have welcomed the South African government’s official rollout of Lenacapavir, calling the bi-annual injectable a definitive breakthrough in turning the tide against the domestic HIV epidemic. The long-acting injectable medication, officially launched by the state in June 2026, is widely regarded as the most monumental leap forward in preventative medicine since the initial introduction of oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP).
Academics from MUT’s Department of Biomedical Sciences, Dr Roxanne Pillay and Dr Ziningi Jaya, noted that the real-world impact of this rollout lies in shifting the biological and behavioural burdens away from vulnerable patients. “This is a significant stride in the fight against HIV. Unlike traditional oral PrEP tablets, which mandate strict daily adherence to remain effective, Lenacapavir is administered as a subcutaneous injection just once every six months. This means individuals only require two clinic visits per year to maintain near-total protection,” said Dr Pillay, Lecturer in MUT’s Department of Biomedical Sciences, with a PhD in Virology. Dr Jaya also has a PhD in Virology.
The clinical trial data supporting the medication are unprecedented, demonstrating nearly 100% efficacy in preventing transmission during rigorous human trials. This flawless performance prompted the World Health Organisation (WHO) to officially recommend Lenacapavir as an essential, high-tier PrEP option in late 2025, paving the way for South Africa’s localised public health rollout this year.
The urgency for a long-acting clinical intervention remains clear. Despite decades of aggressive public health messaging, expanding local testing infrastructure, and scaling up antiretroviral therapy (ART) distribution networks, HIV persists as South Africa’s most complex and deeply entrenched public health reality. According to Dr Pillay, there are eight million people in South Africa living with HIV, and 170,000 who contract the virus every year.
President Cyril Ramaphosa hailed the national distribution framework as a historic “turning point” in the country’s multi-decade battle against HIV/AIDS. To ensure immediate access for those who need it most, the state has finalised an initial R1.3 billion funding partnership with international donors.
This major financial injection will immediately deploy the preventative medication across an initial cohort of 360 public health facilities mapped throughout the country’s highest-burden districts, creating an aggressive, scalable buffer against new annual infections.