aidsmap news story<\/p>\n
Targeted deployment of twice-yearly lenacapavir for pregnant and breastfeeding women without HIV in high-incidence districts in sub-Saharan Africa could substantially reduce vertical transmission at a fraction of the cost of universal rollout, according to a modelling study published in the Journal of the International AIDS Society. But the authors say lenacapavir should be seen as complementary to, not a substitute for, strengthening existing programmes to prevent vertical transmission.<\/p>\n
Anna Yakusik of UNAIDS and colleagues carried out the modelling study, evaluating the cost-effectiveness of scaling up lenacapavir among pregnant and breastfeeding women without HIV across sub-Saharan Africa. They found that targeted deployment in high-incidence districts could reduce both maternal and paediatric HIV acquisitions, at a net cost of US$8,500 per acquisition averted, compared to US$85,000 under universal rollout.<\/p>\n