NEWARK, NJ — Planned Parenthood of Metropolitan New Jersey (PPMNJ) is observing National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day by officially launching Yeztugo® (lenacapavir), an FDA-approved, twice-yearly injectable pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) option for HIV prevention. This launch reflects PPMNJ’s commitment to expanding equitable access to cutting-edge prevention tools in the communities most impacted by HIV and advancing Black health equity at large.

Yeztugo® represents one of the most significant advances in HIV prevention in decades. It reduces barriers associated with daily PrEP pills and supports patients navigating stigma, privacy concerns, or adherence challenges.

“With federal support for HIV prevention under threat, Planned Parenthood of Metropolitan New Jersey is stepping up, as we always have, to ensure equitable access to care,” said Roslyn Rogers Collins, President and CEO of PPMNJ. “By offering Yeztugo® in all five of our brick-and-mortar health centers, we’re removing barriers and bringing innovative, life-saving HIV prevention to every individual who desires that care.”

In 2025, PPMNJ provided more than 395 PrEP visits across its health centers in Newark, East Orange, Paterson, and Montclair, a nearly 20% increase over 2024. This statistic clearly demonstrates the ongoing need for affordable and accessible HIV prevention services.

“Yeztugo® has the potential to transform HIV prevention for communities in Essex, Hudson, and Passaic counties,” said Dr. Ena Marsan, DO, MPH, FACOOG, Acting Medical Director of PPMNJ. “For Black people and other marginalized groups who have long faced barriers to care, this medication is more than protection: It’s a step toward health equity, choice, and real control over one’s own wellbeing.”

According to the New Jersey Department of Health:
More than 36,000 New Jerseyans are living with HIV.

Essex, Hudson, and Passaic counties experience the highest HIV prevalence in the state.

Black residents make up approximately 15% of the state’s population, but nearly 50% of the people living with HIV.

One in 69 Black New Jersey residents is estimated to be living with HIV, compared with one in 642 White non-Hispanic residents.

"Launching Yeztugo® on National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day is about more than innovation — it’s about advancing Black health equity," said Craig Pogue, Vice President of Health Services of PPMNJ. "Black communities in New Jersey face disproportionate HIV risk, and PPMNJ is making sure lifesaving prevention tools reach everyone who needs them, no matter what."

We invite the community to join Planned Parenthood of Metropolitan New Jersey and partners for a free, welcoming community gathering in honor of National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. This event centers mutual aid and community care, offering free breakfast, gift cards*, and care vouchers** alongside information about Yeztugo®, a new twice-yearly option for HIV prevention. Together, we’re investing in Black health and removing barriers to care. All are welcome. Email communications@ppmnj.org to RSVP.

About National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
Observed annually on February 7, National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day highlights the disproportionate impact of HIV in Black communities, promotes testing, and emphasizes the importance of access to prevention and treatment services.

About Planned Parenthood of Metropolitan New Jersey
Planned Parenthood of Metropolitan New Jersey provides high-quality, inclusive sexual and reproductive health care, education, and advocacy to people across New Jersey. PPMNJ is dedicated to ensuring that every individual has access to the services and information they need to make informed decisions about their health.