HIV prevention has transformed over the past decade from daily oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) with tenofovir-emtricitabine combinations toward long-acting formulations that reduce the adherence burden and expand real-world effectiveness. On this site, coverage focuses on the peptide-adjacent modalities driving the next generation of PrEP.
Gilead's Yeztugo (lenacapavir), FDA-approved in June 2025, is the first twice-yearly subcutaneous injectable PrEP option. Phase 3 PURPOSE 1 and PURPOSE 2 trials documented near-100% efficacy with 52-week open-label extension data showing zero new HIV infections across more than 7,178 person-years (PURPOSE 1) and one infection across 5,295 person-years (PURPOSE 2). Rollout has extended into 10 priority sub-Saharan African countries including South Africa's national program (launched June 5, 2026). Generic lenacapavir at approximately $40 per person per year from six manufacturers is expected in 2027 across 120 low- and lower-middle-income countries.
Merck's alimatravir (MK-8527) is an investigational once-monthly oral HIV prevention pill in Phase 3 development with topline results expected in late 2027. Voluntary royalty-free licensing agreements announced July 24, 2026 with Aspen Pharmacare (South Africa), Quality Chemical Industries (Uganda), UCL Kenya, plus Aurobindo, Cipla, Emcure, and Viatris (India) cover 129 low- and middle-income countries.
Detailed long-term prevention and treatment data anchors the 26th International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2026) in Rio de Janeiro July 26-31, 2026. Stories here cover trial readouts, commercial launches, generic access programs, and policy shifts affecting the global PrEP market. See [[lenacapavir]], [[alimatravir]], and [[gilead]] for adjacent threads.
Gilead Sciences (NASDAQ: GILD) presented 52-week open-label extension (OLE) long-term data from the Phase 3 PURPOSE 1 and PURPOSE 2 trials of twice-yearly subcutaneous lenacapavir (Yeztugo, FDA-approved June 2025) for HIV prevention (pre-exposure prophylaxis, PrEP) at AIDS 2026 Wednesday July 29, 2026. PURPOSE 1 documented zero new HIV infections among participants receiving twice-yearly lenacapavir across more than 7,178 person-years of open-label follow-up at Week 52; PURPOSE 2 documented one HIV infection among participants continuing lenacapavir across 5,295 person-years. The 52-week OLE data confirms continued high efficacy, high adherence (participants generally reliably return for the twice-yearly injection), and consistent safety profile across broad and geographically diverse populations. Yeztugo has now been deployed in 10 priority sub-Saharan African countries including South Africa (national program launched June 5, 2026 by President Cyril Ramaphosa in Secunda, Mpumalanga), Zambia, and Eswatini through PEPFAR and Global Fund investments. Generic versions from Dr. Reddy's Laboratories, Hetero Labs, and four other manufacturers are expected in 2027 at approximately $40 per person per year across 120 low- and lower-middle-income countries.
The 26th International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2026) pre-conference sessions open Sunday July 26, 2026 at Riocentro in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil with PATH, WHO, and Unitaid programming focused on 'Advancing HIV Prevention Science and Access' between 08:00-13:00 local time. Twice-yearly lenacapavir (Gilead's Yeztugo, FDA-approved June 2025) has been deployed in 10 priority sub-Saharan African countries including South Africa (Secunda, Mpumalanga launch by President Cyril Ramaphosa on June 5, 2026), Zambia, and Eswatini through PEPFAR and Global Fund investments. Generic versions from Dr. Reddy's Laboratories, Hetero Labs, and four other manufacturers are expected in 2027 at approximately $40 per person per year following Gates Foundation and Unitaid partnership announcements in September 2025 (compared to the current US Yeztugo list price of approximately $28,218 per person per year). The main conference opens Monday July 27 with the UNAIDS 'United to End AIDS' report release providing 2025 HIV data and the WHO's first global mid-term assessment of progress under the Global Health Sector Strategies on HIV, viral hepatitis, and sexually transmitted infections (marking the halfway point to the 2030 targets). Up to 10,000 attendees are expected in person and virtually across the seven-day program running through Friday July 31. Conference theme: 'Rethink. Rebuild. Rise.'
The 26th International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2026) opens Sunday July 26, 2026 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and runs through Friday July 31. Two peptide-adjacent HIV modality readouts anchor the industry program. Gilead Sciences (NASDAQ: GILD) will present twice-yearly lenacapavir (first-in-class HIV capsid inhibitor) long-term open-label extension data from the Phase 3 PURPOSE 1 trial, where zero new HIV infections occurred among participants receiving lenacapavir across more than 7,178 person-years of follow-up at Week 52, and from PURPOSE 2, where one HIV infection occurred among participants continuing lenacapavir across 5,295 person-years of follow-up. Separately, Gilead and Merck's once-weekly oral single-tablet islatravir 2 mg / lenacapavir 300 mg (ISL/LEN) Phase 3 ISLEND-1 and ISLEND-2 detailed data is scheduled for the late-breaking session on Wednesday July 29. Topline released July 21 showed 0% of ISLEND-1 once-weekly ISL/LEN participants had HIV-1 RNA at 50 copies/mL or higher at Week 48 (versus 0.3% remaining on daily Biktarvy). Merck plans separate presentations across its daily, weekly, and monthly HIV treatment and prevention pipeline including alimatravir (MK-8527), the investigational once-monthly oral HIV prevention pill licensed Friday July 24 to Aspen Pharmacare and six other generic manufacturers for 129 low- and middle-income countries.
Merck (MSD) announced Friday July 24, 2026 seven voluntary, royalty-free, non-exclusive licensing agreements with generic drug manufacturers covering the investigational once-monthly oral HIV prevention pill MK-8527 (alimatravir). The licensees are Aspen Pharmacare (South Africa), Quality Chemical Industries (Uganda), and UCL Kenya in sub-Saharan Africa, plus Aurobindo, Cipla, Emcure, and Viatris in India. The territorial scope covers 129 low- and middle-income countries including every African nation. Alimatravir is an investigational late-stage once-monthly long-acting oral medicine for HIV-1 prevention, currently in Phase 3 development. Phase 3 topline results are not expected until late 2027. Alimatravir is designed to provide one month of protection from HIV-1 starting within one hour after dosing. Coverage frames the licensing structure as one of the broadest generic-access pre-approval commitments Merck has undertaken for an HIV asset. The announcement follows the April 7 STAT reporting that Merck's experimental HIV prevention pill could be made for less than $5 a year at manufacturing cost. Merck plans to file for regulatory approval in 2027-2028 with market launch dependent on Phase 3 outcome.