Drug Database: Lenacapavir

What is lenacapavir?What is lenacapavir?

What is lenacapavir?

Lenacapavir is a prescription medicine approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It is approved under two different brand names for the following uses:

• Lenacapavir oral tablet and injection (brand name: Sunlenca)
  • For the treatment of HIV in adults for whom other HIV medicines have not worked and who meet certain requirements, as determined by a health care provider. Lenacapavir for HIV treatment is always used in combination with other HIV medicines.
• Lenacapavir oral tablet and injection (brand name: Yeztugo)
  • For HIV PrEP to reduce the risk of HIV in adults and adolescents who weigh at least 77 lb (35 kg), are HIV negative, and are at risk of getting HIV from sex. Lenacapavir for PrEP should always be used in combination with safer sex practices, such as using condoms, to reduce the risk of getting other sexually transmitted infections.

For more information on the use of lenacapavir, please refer to the Guidelines for the Use of Antiretroviral Agents in Adults and Adolescents With HIV and the Guidelines for the Use of Antiretroviral Agents in Pediatric HIV Infection.

For more information about HIV PrEP, including information on who should consider using PrEP, please read the HIVinfo fact sheet on PrEP.

HIV medicines cannot cure HIV/AIDS, but using HIV medicines as directed by a health care provider helps people with HIV live longer, healthier lives. When used as treatment, HIV medicines also reduce the risk of HIV transmission. Whether you are using lenacapavir for HIV prevention or treatment (in combination with other HIV medicines), do not cut down on, skip, or stop using your HIV medicine(s) unless your health care provider tells you to.

What should I tell my health care provider before using lenacapavir?What should I tell my health care provider before using lenacapavir?

What should I tell my health care provider before using lenacapavir?

Before using lenacapavir, tell your health care provider:

• If you are allergic to lenacapavir or any other medicines.
• If you have any medical conditions.
• If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Talk to your health care provider about the risks and benefits of using lenacapavir during pregnancy. Lenacapavir injection is long acting and can remain in your body for up to 12 months or longer after your last injection. For more information on the use of lenacapavir during pregnancy, please refer to the Recommendations for the Use of Antiretroviral Drugs During Pregnancy and Interventions to Reduce Perinatal HIV Transmission in the United States.
• If you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. For mothers with HIV in the United States, the Guideline recommends speaking with your health care provider to discuss options for feeding your baby. Mothers with suppressed viral load have a less than 1% chance of transmitting HIV to their baby via their own milk. Although most medicines are safe to use while breastfeeding, some medicines should be avoided. Always let your health care provider know about all the medicines and supplements you are using before you start breastfeeding.
• If you are using hormone-based birth control (such as injections, vaginal rings, implants, contraceptive patches, or birth control pills). For more information about using birth control and HIV medicines at the same time, view the HIVinfo HIV and Birth Control infographic.
• About other prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products (including St. John's wort) you are taking or plan to take. Lenacapavir may affect the way other medicines or products work, and other medicines or products may affect how lenacapavir works. Using lenacapavir together with certain medicines or products may cause serious side effects.

Before receiving lenacapavir for HIV PrEP, you must get tested to be sure you are HIV negative. Do not use lenacapavir for HIV PrEP unless you are confirmed to be HIV negative.

Before receiving lenacapavir for PrEP, also tell your health care provider:

• If you had a flu-like illness anytime in the month before starting lenacapavir or if you have a flu-like illness at any time while receiving lenacapavir. Flu-like symptoms may be a sign that you could have recently gotten HIV. The flu-like symptoms of a new HIV infection may include: tiredness, fever, nighttime sweating, rash, vomiting, diarrhea, joint or muscle aches, headache, sore throat, or enlarged lymph nodes in the neck or groin.

How should I use lenacapavir?How should I use lenacapavir?

How should I use lenacapavir?

Lenacapavir comes in the following forms and strengths:

• 300-mg tablets (brand names: Sunlenca [HIV treatment], Yeztugo [HIV PrEP])
• 463.5-mg/1.5-mL single-dose vials of injectable solution (brand names: Sunlenca [HIV treatment], Yeztugo [HIV PrEP])

Use lenacapavir according to your health care provider's instructions. Do not miss a dose of lenacapavir, and do not change your dose or stop using lenacapavir without first talking with your health care provider.

HIV treatment

Initially, treatment with lenacapavir involves taking oral tablets in addition to receiving subcutaneous (SC) injections of lenacapavir given by a health care provider. Take lenacapavir tablets with or without food.

There are two options for starting treatment with lenacapavir. A health care provider will decide which option is for you.

After initiation dosing is complete, you will then receive two SC injections of lenacapavir every 6 months.

It is important that you attend your planned appointments to receive your injections of lenacapavir to keep HIV under control and help reduce the risk of developing resistance.

If you miss or plan to miss a scheduled every-6-month injection, call your health care provider right away to discuss treatment options. If you plan to miss a scheduled injection, your health care provider may have you temporarily take lenacapavir tablets until your injections resume.

If you stop treatment with lenacapavir, you will need to take other medicines to treat your HIV and reduce the risk of developing resistance.

Lenacapavir injections are long acting. The medicine may remain in your body for 12 months or longer after your last injection and may affect certain other drugs for up to 9 months after receiving your last injection.

When used as HIV treatment, always use lenacapavir in combination with other HIV medicines.

HIV PrEP

Initially, lenacapavir for PrEP involves receiving SC injections given by a health care provider and oral tablets. On Day 1, you will receive two lenacapavir injections and take two lenacapavir tablets. On Day 2, you will take two lenacapavir tablets. Take lenacapavir tablets with or without food.

After initiation dosing is complete, you will then receive two SC injections of lenacapavir every 6 months.

It is important that you attend your scheduled appointments to receive your injections of lenacapavir to help reduce the risk of getting HIV. Always use PrEP in combination with condoms and other safer sex practices.

If you miss or need to delay your scheduled every-6-month injection of lenacapavir by more than 2 weeks, call your health care provider right away to discuss your PrEP options. Your health care provider may have you temporarily take oral lenacapavir tablets until your injections resume.

It is important that you stay HIV negative while receiving lenacapavir for PrEP. You should be routinely tested for HIV each time you receive a lenacapavir injection or when your health care provider tells you. If you think that you were exposed to HIV, tell your health care provider right away. Your health care provider may want to do more tests to be sure you are still HIV negative.

Lenacapavir injection is long acting. The medicine can stay in your body for 12 months or longer after your last injection and may affect certain other drugs for up to 9 months after receiving your last injection. Stay under the care of a healthcare provider while receiving lenacapavir for PrEP and if you stop using lenacapavir for PrEP.

If you stop receiving lenacapavir for PrEP, talk to your health care provider about options to reduce the risk of getting HIV.

If you have taken too much lenacapavir, contact your health care provider or local poison control center (1-800-222-1222 or online) right away, or go to the nearest hospital emergency room.

For more information on how to use lenacapavir for HIV treatment or PrEP, see the FDA drug label for Sunlenca tablet (film coated), kit (injection) or Yeztugo tablet (film coated), kit (injection).

• For more information on the use of lenacapavir, please refer to the Guidelines for the Use of Antiretroviral Agents in Adults and Adolescents With HIV and the Guidelines for the Use of Antiretroviral Agents in Pediatric HIV Infection.
• This Patient Version drug summary is based on the following FDA label(s): Sunlenca tablet (film coated), kit (injection); Yeztugo tablet (film coated), kit (injection). The Patient Package Inserts include information for people using lenacapavir.
• The American Hospital Formulary Service (AHFS) Patient Medication Information for lenacapavir and lenacapavir injection available from MedlinePlus.
• Lenacapavir-related research studies, from ClinicalTrials.gov. (The ClinicalTrials.gov search can be modified so that you can get results that better match your interests.)
• Fact sheets from HIVinfo:
  • Long-Acting HIV Medicine
  • Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP)
  • FDA-Approved HIV Medicines

Manufacturer Information

Gilead Sciences, Inc.
Main number: 800-445-3235
Patient assistance: 800-226-2056

Last Reviewed: December 29, 2025

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