Nigeria has received its first consignment of Lenacapavir, a twice-yearly injectable drug widely regarded as one of the most powerful HIV prevention tools ever developed, marking a watershed moment in the country’s long battle against the epidemic.
The Federal Government confirmed the receipt of the injection on Wednesday, with the development approved by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Ali Pate, and supported through the Global Fund. The introduction of Lenacapavir for pre-exposure prophylaxis marks a significant step toward broadening the range of prevention choices available to individuals at risk of HIV infection. As a long-acting injectable option, it has the potential to improve adherence and expand access to effective HIV prevention services for populations that may face challenges with daily oral prevention options.
Announcing the arrival, the National Coordinator of the National HIV, Viral Hepatitis and STDs Control Programme, Dr Adebobola Bashorun, said the country was taking decisive steps to reduce new HIV infections and improve health outcomes for communities across Nigeria. “The arrival of long-acting injectable Lenacapavir is a clear demonstration of Nigeria’s resolve to scale up innovative solutions and strengthen the fight against HIV. Together, Nigeria moves closer to ending HIV as a public health threat,” he said.
The drug’s clinical credentials are extraordinary. Global clinical trials showed Lenacapavir reduces HIV transmission by up to 99.9 percent. In one major trial conducted among young women in South Africa and Uganda, there were zero HIV infections among those who received the injection.
The introduction follows a landmark recommendation by the World Health Organisation in July 2025, endorsing injectable Lenacapavir as an additional HIV prevention option. Nigeria had announced plans to adopt the drug in December 2025, following its rollout in South Africa, Eswatini, and Zambia — marking the first public use of the twice-yearly injectable in Africa.
Regulatory clearance was secured from the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, and readiness assessments have already been completed in ten states including Lagos, Kano, Akwa Ibom, and Anambra.
A key breakthrough underpinning Nigeria’s access to the drug is its price. In September 2025, on the sidelines of the 80th United Nations General Assembly, Nigeria joined other countries in announcing a major price-reduction agreement at a Clinton Global Initiative meeting, bringing the cost of the twice-yearly injection down to approximately $40 per person per year for eligible low- and middle-income countries — a dramatic reduction from its list price of around $28,000 in high-income markets. The drug is expected to be available to Nigeria and 119 other low- and middle-income countries under voluntary licensing agreements with generic manufacturers.
The stakes for Nigeria are immense. With an estimated 1.9 million people living with HIV, Nigeria’s prevention response has long been hampered by pill fatigue, stigma, and adherence difficulties associated with daily oral medication — challenges that a twice-yearly injection is well positioned to address.
The National HIV, Viral Hepatitis and STDs Control Programme said it will work with partners and stakeholders to ensure the safe introduction, strategic deployment, and effective integration of Lenacapavir into the national HIV prevention framework, with the rollout supporting ongoing efforts to increase access to prevention services.
