HIV and global health activists say the deployment of Gilead’s twice-a-year HIV prevention shot is the world’s best chance to beat back the virus and prevent new infections.

The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a twice-a-year drug to be used to prevent HIV.

The recent FDA approval of lenacapavir is encouraging in its promise of long-term HIV prevention but might not be available for the vast majority of people in the US.

Lenacapavir is an antiretroviral medicine that helps prevent 99.9 per cent of all HIV transmission, according to studies.