Kenya Prepares Monthly HIV Prevention Pill Amid Global Health Efforts

Kenya is among three African countries preparing to make a once-monthly HIV prevention pill. The pill, alimatravir, could replace daily oral PrEP for some users if trials succeed and regulators approve it.

The drug is an investigational oral pre-exposure prophylaxis pill (MK-8527). Regulators have not approved it for public use yet.

Universal Corporation Limited (UCL), a manufacturer based in Kikuyu, is one of seven generic drugmakers Merck has picked to prepare to produce alimatravir. The license covers 129 low and middle-income countries, including Kenya, South Africa, and Uganda.

Merck says the early start lets manufacturers build capacity while trials continue, which shortens the gap between approval and supply.