The agency said it has received regulatory approval from NAFDAC, clearing the way for the drug’s introduction
Nigeria will soon begin distributing Lenacapavir, a breakthrough HIV prevention drug shown to be 100% effective in clinical trials, the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) has announced.
The agency said it has received regulatory approval from NAFDAC, clearing the way for the drug’s introduction.
Unlike daily oral prevention drugs, Lenacapavir is an injectable treatment administered just twice a year, making it a more convenient option for Nigerians at risk of HIV.
The drug will be made available in Nigeria and 119 other low- and middle-income countries at an annual cost of $40 per person, under voluntary licensing agreements with generic manufacturers.
“The Government of Nigeria is preparing for the rollout of Lenacapavir as Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP). This is part of efforts to strengthen HIV prevention and move closer to epidemic control,” the NACA statement said.
According to NACA, readiness assessments have been completed in ten states, including Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Benue, Cross River, Ebonyi, FCT, Gombe, Kano, Kwara, and Lagos. The agency expects the drug to arrive in Nigeria by March 2026.
Nigeria currently has about 1.9 million people living with HIV, with a national adult prevalence of 1.3%.
In 2021, the country recorded 74,000 new infections and 51,000 AIDS-related deaths. The South-South zone has the highest prevalence at 3.1%, and women aged 15–49 are over twice as likely as men to live with HIV.
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