MANILA: (Bernama-PNA) The Philippine Department of Health (DOH) has secured a donation of 15,000 doses of the long-acting injectable pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) drug Lenacapavir (LEN) through a joint initiative with the United States Department of State to combat the country's rising HIV infection rates.
According to the Philippine News Agency (PNA), the DOH, in a public advisory on Monday (June 8), said the incoming supply will be distributed for free across selected HIV care facilities nationwide.
According to data from the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, the drug is highly efficient, with a 96 per cent efficacy rate in preventing HIV infections among individuals who test negative for the virus.
Unlike daily oral medications, the long-acting injectable requires a patient to receive only one dose every six months, or just twice a year.
The deployment of the 15,000 doses comes as the DOH continuously pushes for HIV to be declared an Urgent Public Health Concern, driven by a steady surge in confirmed cases across the Philippines.
The country recorded 4,633 newly reported HIV cases from January to March 2026, equivalent to an average of 51 new diagnoses per day.
The cumulative number of reported HIV cases in the country reached 168,079 from January 1984 to March 2026.
Individuals aged 25 to 34 accounted for 46 per cent of new cases, followed by those aged 15 to 24 at 31 per cent.
People aged 35 to 49 comprised 18 per cent, while those aged 50 and older represented 3 per cent.
Less than 1 per cent of cases involved individuals younger than 15 years old.
By region, the National Capital Region recorded the highest number of cases with 989, representing 21 per cent of the total.
It was followed by Calabarzon with 808 cases (17 per cent), Central Luzon with 551 cases (12 per cent), Soccsksargen with 277 cases (6 per cent), and the Davao Region with 263 cases (6 per cent).
The rest of the country accounted for 1,719 cases or 37 per cent.
The report also showed that 1,104 individuals were diagnosed with advanced HIV disease during the period.
Meanwhile, 4,716 people were newly enrolled in antiretroviral therapy, the standard treatment for HIV infection.
Based on estimates, the country had about 288,000 people living with HIV (PLHIV) in 2025.
Of these, 157,350, or 55 per cent, had been diagnosed, while 108,367 were receiving ART, equivalent to 69 per cent of diagnosed cases.
However, only 59,540 individuals had achieved viral suppression, representing 55 per cent of those on treatment. - Bernama-PNA
