A NEW KIND OF FREEDOM

An extraordinary advance in HIV prevention is opening new possibilities. For India, the next challenge is making sure scientific progress reaches everyone who could benefit.

Sexual freedom is about more than who we love, who we desire, or how we express ourselves. It is also about having the knowledge, choices, and confidence to take care of ourselves.

And science is creating new possibilities.

Meet lenacapavir, a long-acting medicine that offers a new approach to HIV prevention. Used as pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP, it can provide protection through injections administered twice a year following an initial dosing regimen.

Clinical trials demonstrated exceptionally high protection against sexually acquired HIV. For people who find daily medication difficult to maintain, this could be transformative.

It is not simply a new medicine. It is another way to make prevention work around people's lives, rather than asking people to reorganize their lives around prevention.

Why this matters for India

India has made significant progress in its response to HIV, but prevention remains an essential part of the story. According to UNAIDS estimates cited by Médecins Sans Frontières in September 2026, approximately 2.6 million people were living with HIV in India in 2025, with around 60,000 new infections that year.

Against this backdrop, long-acting prevention could offer an important additional choice.

There is encouraging news on access, too. In August 2026, an expert committee under India's Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation recommended waiving certain local clinical-trial requirements for generic lenacapavir for prevention, potentially accelerating its path to market. Indian manufacturers Dr Reddy's Laboratories and Emcure Pharmaceuticals were among those seeking approval.

Final regulatory authorisation, pricing, and wider availability remain crucial next steps. India also has the manufacturing capacity to play a significant role in expanding access to affordable HIV-prevention medicines beyond its borders.

The opportunity is enormous—but innovation matters most when the people who need it can actually obtain it.

Prevention without prejudice

For LGBTQIA+ communities in India, sexual health can involve navigating more than medical questions. Privacy, social expectations, discrimination, and fear of judgment can all influence whether someone feels comfortable seeking care.

That is why the conversation around PrEP matters as much as the medicine itself.

Taking PrEP is not an admission of irresponsibility. It is a healthcare decision. Wanting to protect your health does not define your sexuality, your relationships, or your character.

And living with HIV is not a moral failing. People living with HIV deserve dignity, love, and fulfilling relationships. Effective treatment can reduce HIV to undetectable levels; when a person achieves and maintains an undetectable viral load, they do not sexually transmit HIV. This is known as U=U: Undetectable equals Untransmittable.

Replacing stigma with accurate information helps create space for people to make informed choices without shame.

What can you do today?

You do not have to wait for generic lenacapavir to become available in India to explore HIV prevention.

Oral PrEP is already an established option, and India's PrEP framework provides a foundation for expanding access. Speak with a qualified healthcare professional about availability, suitability, testing, and ongoing monitoring.

Condoms remain valuable for reducing the risk of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. PrEP specifically protects against HIV, not other STIs or unintended pregnancy. Regular sexual-health screening and open conversations with partners can also help you make informed decisions.

If twice-yearly injections are not yet accessible where you live, ask about existing options rather than assuming you must wait.

The future belongs to possibility

Yeztugo will not solve every challenge in India's HIV response. Affordability, access, reliable healthcare, and freedom from discrimination remain essential.

But the science represents a significant step forward: more choice in how people protect their health, with the potential to make prevention easier to incorporate into everyday life.

Conversations about sexuality deserve honesty, confidence, and freedom from judgment. Sexual health belongs in that conversation—not as a warning against pleasure, but as part of living well.

The future of HIV prevention is not about telling people how to live. It is about ensuring they have the knowledge, healthcare, and choices to live on their own terms.

More choice. Better access. No shame.