The HIV epidemic has been simmering for more than 40 years, and while anti-viral medications have saved millions of lives, there is still no vaccine to protect people from getting infected in the first place—crucial to eliminating the disease. Anti-HIV medications can reduce the risk of getting infected, but people need to take the oral medication daily, a barrier that prohibits many from taking advantage of the therapy. CEO Daniel O’Day’s team at Gilead changed that in June 2025, when its drug lenacapavir became the first twice-yearly medication approved by the U.S. FDA to prevent HIV infection. People at high risk of being exposed to HIV can receive the injections from their doctor and significantly reduce their chances of getting infected and of passing along the virus. The World Health Organization now recommends the drug for HIV prevention, and the U.S.’s President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) program has committed to providing lenacapavir to eight to 12 countries most heavily affected by HIV.
