The European Commission authorized a twice-yearly HIV prevention injection, opening distribution across the European Union.
Drugmaker Gilead confirmed the approval of lenacapavir, a groundbreaking pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) medicine.
EMA regulators recommended the treatment one month earlier, calling it a milestone in the fight against HIV.
Lenacapavir Redefines HIV Prevention
The injection prevents the virus from replicating and spreading within the body.
It protects both adults and adolescents, lowering the risk of HIV infection.
Clinical trials showed 100 percent effectiveness, leading experts to call it a major breakthrough of 2024.
The drug, branded Yeytuo, will launch in the EU, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein.
It offers the first twice-yearly PrEP option, replacing the need for daily tablets.
Growing Urgency as Cases Increase
In 2023, Europe reported more than 24,700 new HIV diagnoses, an 11.8 percent rise from 2022.
Dr. Dietmar Berger of Gilead said the rapid approval highlights Yeytuo’s transformative impact on prevention.
The FDA has already authorized lenacapavir, and WHO recommended it as an additional prevention method.
Gilead also seeks approval in Australia, Brazil, Canada, South Africa, and Switzerland.
It plans to extend applications to Argentina, Mexico, and Peru.
The company agreed to provide generic versions in 120 low-income nations with high HIV prevalence.
Global access remains uncertain as the United States cut major health funding earlier this year.
HIV Still a Global Health Crisis
HIV affects an estimated 40.8 million people worldwide.
Last year, about 630,000 people died from AIDS-related illnesses.
