On World AIDS Day, the World Health Organization (WHO) urged governments and partners to rapidly expand access to new WHO-approved tools, including lenacapavir (LEN), to reduce HIV infections and counter disruptions to essential health services caused by cuts to foreign aid. LEN, a twice-yearly injectable for HIV prevention, offers a long-acting alternative to oral pills and is particularly beneficial for individuals facing adherence challenges or stigma in accessing healthcare. WHO released guidelines in July 2025 recommending LEN as an additional pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) option, marking a significant advancement in HIV prevention.
Despite these innovations, sudden reductions in international funding have disrupted HIV prevention, treatment, and testing services. Community-led programs, including PrEP and harm reduction initiatives for people who inject drugs, have been scaled back or suspended in some countries. WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus highlighted the urgent need to expand access to new tools, emphasizing that governments and partners must prioritize protecting and empowering communities most at risk.
Recent data show that HIV prevention efforts have stagnated, with 1.3 million new infections in 2024. Almost half of new infections occurred among key populations, including sex workers, men who have sex with men, transgender women, and people who inject drugs. These groups face significantly higher risks due to stigma, discrimination, and structural barriers to accessing HIV care. Globally, 40.8 million people are living with HIV, and 630,000 died from HIV-related causes in 2024. Cuts in foreign aid have led to a decline in PrEP access, affecting an estimated 2.5 million people who relied on the medication in 2024, threatening progress toward ending AIDS by 2030.
WHO emphasizes that the global HIV response is entering a new era of innovation, pairing advances like LEN with decisive action to support communities and remove structural barriers. LEN was prequalified for HIV prevention by WHO in October 2025, followed by national approvals in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Zambia, with collaborative procedures enabling faster regulatory access. Partnerships with CIFF, the Gates Foundation, the Global Fund, and Unitaid aim to ensure affordable and equitable access to LEN for priority populations.
Ending the AIDS epidemic requires integrating HIV services into primary health care through a rights-based, evidence-driven approach. WHO stresses the importance of placing affected communities at the center of the response while strengthening health systems, increasing domestic investment, and protecting human rights. Despite funding setbacks, the leadership and resilience of communities provide a clear path forward to safeguard gains and ensure no one is left behind in the fight against HIV.
