52,000 Doses of HIV Prevention Injection Lenacapavir Arrive in Nigeria

52,000 doses of the HIV prevention injection Lenacapavir have arrived in Nigeria.

Philips News reports that the Federal Government has announced plans to roll out a new long-acting HIV prevention injection, Lenacapavir, as part of efforts to accelerate progress toward ending HIV/AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.

The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Iziaq Salako, said the initiative reflects the government’s commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s HIV response through innovation, expanded prevention services, and increased domestic financing.

This newspaper understands that Salako made this known during a media parley organised by the National HIV, Viral Hepatitis and STDs Control Programme under the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

“The government of Nigeria under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu remains committed to ending HIV/AIDS as a public health threat by 2030 through a comprehensive and multi-sectoral approach that prioritises the expansion of prevention, treatment, and care services,” Salako said.

Nigeria has been selected by the Global Fund as one of nine early adopter countries for the introduction of Lenacapavir for pre-exposure prophylaxis with rollout scheduled to begin in January 2026.

He said, “About 52,000 doses of the injectable drug have been secured to support the initial phase of implementation.”

PhilipsNews reports that Lenacapavir, a long-acting antiretroviral, is administered once every six months, offering a significant shift from daily oral PrEP regimens that have faced adherence challenges, particularly among high-risk populations.

Nigeria has the second-largest HIV epidemic globally, with an estimated 1.9 million people living with HIV, according to data from the National Agency for the Control of AIDS.

Although prevalence has declined in recent years, new infections remain a major public health concern.

Experts say prevention remains the weakest link in Nigeria’s HIV response.

While oral PrEP has been available, uptake has been limited due to stigma, access barriers, and difficulties with daily adherence.

Health economists warn that without stronger prevention strategies, Nigeria risks a steady pipeline of new infections that could strain already limited treatment resources.

Salako said the introduction of Lenacapavir represents a major advancement in HIV prevention, particularly for key and vulnerable populations.

“One of such advancements is the introduction of long-acting injectable PrEP, which expands Nigeria’s HIV prevention toolkit and provides additional prevention options for individuals at substantial risk of HIV acquisition,” he said.

Also speaking at the event, the National Coordinator of the National AIDS and STDs Control Programme, Adebobola Bashorun, disclosed that the Federal Government is working toward expanding access to the drug across more states.

“As we scale up, we are exploring catalytic funding to increase the number of doses and extend coverage to populations most at risk,” Bashorun said.

He noted that Lenacapavir would complement, not replace, existing HIV prevention methods such as oral pre-exposure prophylaxis.

“We already have multiple prevention options. Individuals can still use oral PrEP. National policy guidelines will determine how best to integrate this new option into existing programmes,” he added.

On safety concerns, Bashorun explained that reported side effects have been mild and largely limited to injection-site reactions.

“The common side effects include pain at the injection site, which is expected. We are actively monitoring for any adverse reactions, and so far, the outcomes are encouraging,” he said

Earlier, Salako highlighted that the introduction of Lenacapavir in Nigeria is being facilitated through support from the Global Fund.

“This drug is being made available through a partnership with the Global Fund. Over time, we expect to engage manufacturers directly and explore pathways for local production,” Salako said.

The Minister added that discussions around technology transfer and domestic manufacturing would be critical to ensuring long-term sustainability and reducing dependence on external donors.