Yeztugo® (lenacapavir) is a long-acting injectable prescription medicine that helps prevent HIV, a type of prevention called PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis). It is FDA approved in the U.S.
| How often | One visit every 6 months, with 2 injections per visit. |
| Starter pills | 2 pills on Day 1 and 2 on Day 2. After that, no more pills |
| Who gives it | A healthcare provider. It isn’t self-injected. |
| Where | Under the skin of your abdomen (belly) or thigh. |
| How well it works | 99.9% effective if taken as prescribed |
Not sure if it’s for you? See Is Yeztugo right for me? To learn what happens at each visit, see How is Yeztugo given?
Compared with other PrEP
| Daily pill (Truvada or Descovy) | Apretude | Yeztugo | |
|---|---|---|---|
| How often | Every day | Every 2 months | Every 6 months |
| Type | Pill | Injection | Injection |
| Also treats hepatitis B? | Yes | No | No |
Already on PrEP? See Switching to Yeztugo from your current PrEP
How well does it work?
Yeztugo was tested in two large clinical trials. In both, 99.9% of people who got Yeztugo stayed HIV negative.
Daily pills work well when taken every day. In these studies they did worse because many people missed doses. An injection every 6 months is easier for many people to stay on.
No PrEP is perfect, and injections need to be on time. See What if I miss a dose of Yeztugo?
What it costs
Yeztugo is a brand-name medicine. The list price is about $28,000 a year, but most people with insurance pay far less. Freddie currently offers Yeztugo only to patients with private insurance.
- Medication cost: Gilead reports that over 95% of insured people in the U.S. are on a plan that covers Yeztugo. Your cost depends on your plan, but it can be $0 or a low copay. Gilead’s copay card can also cover up to $8,000 a year for commercially insured patients.
- Visits and lab tests: These may be billed separately. Gilead’s copay card can cover up to $100 per injection visit for administration, but doesn’t cover other visit fees or lab costs.
- Not sure what you’ll pay? Call the number on your insurance card, or call Gilead Advancing Access at 1-800-226-2056. They can check your coverage for free.
Want more information on Yeztugo? Read What is Yeztugo (lenacapavir)? on Freddie’s site.