The European Commission approved a twice-yearly HIV prevention injection after regulators recommended the medicine last month.
Drugmaker Gilead confirmed the approval, calling the decision a breakthrough for HIV prevention across the European Union.
The jab, named lenacapavir, will be sold as Yeytuo in the EU, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein.
Lenacapavir Shows Game-Changing Results
Lenacapavir prevents HIV by stopping the virus from replicating and spreading inside the body.
It works as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for both adults and adolescents.
Clinical trials showed the drug was 100 per cent effective at blocking HIV transmission.
Experts hailed the injection as one of 2024’s most important medical discoveries.
The twice-yearly option eliminates the daily pill requirement, simplifying prevention efforts.
Rising HIV Rates Add Urgency
Europe recorded over 24,700 new HIV diagnoses in 2023, up nearly 12 per cent from 2022.
HIV now affects more than 40.8 million people globally, with 630,000 deaths last year.
The US Food and Drug Administration already approved lenacapavir, and the WHO endorsed it as an additional prevention tool.
Gilead seeks approval in countries including Australia, Brazil, Canada, South Africa, and Switzerland.
The company plans to expand applications to Argentina, Mexico, and Peru.
It also agreed to supply generic versions in 120 low-income countries with high HIV rates.
However, experts warn distribution may face challenges after the United States cut global health funding this year.
