Rwanda Reports Breakthrough in HIV Treatment and Prevention

Kigali, December 9, 2025 - The Minister of Health, Dr. Sabin Nsanzimana, has highlighted remarkable progress in the fight against HIV/AIDS, citing the news of a 10th person remaining asymptomatic for over six years without taking antiretroviral drugs (ARVs). This milestone follows advances with the lenacapavir Yeztugo drug, which prevents HIV infection.

Dr. Nsanzimana said, “While lenacapavir is a major step in the treatment of HIV, another 10th person has been asymptomatic for a long time and is not taking ARVs. After undergoing a stem cell transplant, this person has been asymptomatic for more than six years.” He noted that removing the virus from its reservoirs in the body may be key to achieving a real cure.

A stem cell transplant involves replacing a patient’s damaged blood cells with healthy ones from a donor. This procedure helps strengthen the immune system and replace the cells in which the HIV virus hides, allowing patients to remain symptom-free without medication. However, it requires careful medical supervision due to risks such as infections, organ failure, or death.

The lenacapavir Yeztugo drug, developed by Gilead Sciences, is administered twice a year and has undergone multiple trials. The third phase trial, conducted in South Africa and Uganda with 5,300 participants aged 16-24, demonstrated no detectable HIV in recipients. Additional trials in Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Peru, South Africa, and the United States confirmed high protection among gay men, transgender people, and other high-risk groups, showing 99.9% effectiveness in preventing HIV infection.

According to MINISANTE statistics, Rwanda sees about 3,200 new HIV infections and 2,600 AIDS-related deaths annually. Thanks to recent interventions, new infections have decreased by 82% and AIDS-related deaths have dropped by 86%, signaling major progress in the fight against HIV/AIDS in the country.