Life-saving HIV drug approved for hundreds on NHS England after years of campaigning

Lenacapavir, an injectable treatment for drug-resistant HIV, will now be available on the NHS in England after the health service announced the breakthrough decision this week.

Lenacapavir, an injectable HIV treatment, will be made available on the NHS in England following an announcement this week, offering a lifeline to people whose HIV has become resistant to existing medicines.

NHS England estimates that almost 300 people in England could be eligible for lenacapavir during the first three years of its availability, with patients expected to be contacted within weeks so they can begin treatment as soon as possible.

The decision follows advocacy efforts involving the National AIDS Trust, the British HIV Association (BHIVA), the UK Community Advisory Board (UK-CAB), ACT UP London and individual HIV specialists. Daniel Fluskey, Director of Policy at the National AIDS Trust, described the announcement as "a huge decision for people who need life-saving treatment."

Lenacapavir works differently from most existing HIV medicines — rather than targeting enzymes used by HIV to reproduce, it targets the virus's protective outer shell, known as the capsid, preventing the virus from making further copies of itself.

Patients will first start treatment by taking a tablet for two days, another tablet eight days later, followed by two injections on day 15, after which they will only need to receive a maintenance dose through an injection bi-annually. The twice-yearly dosing makes it much more convenient than daily oral medications.

While modern antiretroviral therapies allow the vast majority of people with HIV to live long and healthy lives, a small number develop resistance to multiple medicines, and for these patients controlling the virus can become extremely difficult and can put their health at serious risk.

The rollout is part of NHS England's multi-step plan to end HIV transmission by 2030. Other initiatives include opt-out testing at A&E departments and at-home test kits available via the NHS App.

John Stewart, National Director for Specialised Commissioning at NHS England, said the treatment "will offer a lifeline to people living with HIV for whom conventional treatments have not worked" and give them "the opportunity to live a normal, healthy and long life."