WHO endorses twice yearly HIV prevention shot

By Sola Charles 

In a major advancement for global HIV prevention, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has officially recommended injectable lenacapavir (LEN) as a new pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) option. Announced at the 13th International AIDS Society Conference (IAS 2025) in Kigali, Rwanda, the new guidelines mark a transformative moment in the fight against HIV.

Lenacapavir, the first PrEP product requiring only two injections per year, offers a long-acting, highly effective alternative to daily oral pills. This innovation is especially promising for individuals who face challenges with daily adherence, stigma, or limited access to healthcare. With its extended protection and simplified dosing, LEN could dramatically improve prevention outcomes for people at high risk of HIV.

The recommendation comes amid troubling statistics showing 1.3 million new HIV infections globally in 2024, with disproportionate impact on key populations such as sex workers, men who have sex with men, transgender individuals, people who inject drugs, and adolescents. WHO’s endorsement of LEN signals a bold move to diversify prevention strategies and empower individuals with more flexible, accessible options.

To support rollout, WHO has also recommended a simplified HIV testing approach using rapid tests. This removes a major barrier to access by eliminating complex procedures and enabling community-based delivery of long-acting PrEP through pharmacies, clinics, and telehealth platforms.

Lenacapavir now joins a growing arsenal of WHO-recommended PrEP tools, including daily oral PrEP, injectable cabotegravir, and the dapivirine vaginal ring. While access to LEN outside clinical trials remains limited, WHO is urging governments, donors, and global health partners to begin integrating it into national HIV prevention programmes immediately, while collecting data on uptake and impact.

Additional updates include new treatment guidelines recommending long-acting injectable cabotegravir and rilpivirine (CAB/RPV) as an alternative for people living with HIV who have achieved viral suppression on oral therapy. These options aim to support individuals facing adherence challenges and offer greater flexibility in treatment.

WHO also introduced new service delivery recommendations to integrate HIV care with noncommunicable diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, and mental health conditions. Updated STI management guidelines now recommend routine screening for gonorrhoea and chlamydia in key populations. For individuals with mpox and HIV, WHO strongly advises rapid initiation of antiretroviral therapy and early HIV testing.

To address the broader challenges of sustaining HIV programmes amid declining funding, WHO has released operational guidance to help countries prioritise services, assess risks, and adapt systems to protect health outcomes.

With 40.8 million people living with HIV globally and 630,000 deaths in 2024, the urgency remains high. WHO’s new guidelines offer a practical, evidence-based roadmap to strengthen prevention, treatment, and service delivery. The call to action is clear: bold implementation is needed now to turn these policy advances into lasting public health impact.

WHO endorses game-changing mosquito repellent tech to combat malaria

By David Essex

The World Health Organization (WHO) has officially recommended the use of spatial emanators—a revolutionary new class of mosquito control tools—to fight malaria, marking the first major vector control innovation in decades.

Also known as spatial repellents, these devices release active ingredients into the air to repel, disorient, and kill malaria-transmitting mosquitoes, offering protection even during daytime hours when traditional bed nets fall short.

“This recommendation opens the door to a new intervention for national malaria control programmes at a time when innovation is urgently needed,” said Dr Daniel Ngamije, Acting Director for Malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases at WHO.

WHO has prequalified two spatial emanator products—Mosquito Shield and Guardian, both developed by SC Johnson & Son, Inc. These devices use transfluthrin, a powerful mosquito-repelling compound, and offer protection lasting from one month to twelve months, depending on the product.

 “Spatial repellents are the first new class of vector control intervention in decades… At a time when progress against malaria has stalled, this is a significant step forward,” said Dr Philippe Duneton, Executive Director of Unitaid.

The prequalification status means these products are now eligible for procurement by UN agencies and national health programmes, potentially accelerating access in malaria-endemic regions.

WHO’s conditional recommendation is based on five independent studies showing that spatial emanators, when used alongside insecticide-treated nets (ITNs), significantly reduce malaria transmission. However, further research is underway to evaluate their standalone effectiveness and outdoor use.

Early trials in Peru and Southeast Asia suggest spatial emanators may also reduce transmission of dengue and other arboviruses, opening the door to broader public health applications.

Global health partners are now racing to fill evidence gaps and expand the use cases for spatial emanators, with WHO guideline groups poised to update recommendations as new data emerges.

The breakthrough could reshape the global fight against mosquito-borne diseases—bringing hope to millions at risk.