Nigeria to Receive Breakthrough HIV Prevention Drug This Month – NACA

Nigeria to Receive Breakthrough HIV Prevention Drug This Month – NACA

Nigeria is set to receive Lenacapavir, a groundbreaking HIV prevention drug, in March 2026, the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) has announced.

The agency disclosed that regulatory approval has been granted by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), clearing the way for the drug’s introduction and nationwide rollout. The confirmation was contained in a statement issued on Monday by Toyin Aderibigbe, Head of Public Relations at NACA.

Lenacapavir, a long-acting injectable HIV prevention drug, has demonstrated 100 percent effectiveness in preventing HIV infection during advanced clinical trials. Unlike daily oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) pills, the injectable medication is administered only twice a year, offering a more convenient and discreet prevention option.

NACA said the Federal Government has intensified preparations for the rollout of injectable PrEP in Nigeria, describing the initiative as a critical step toward reducing new HIV infections and strengthening national prevention strategies.

According to the agency, Lenacapavir will be made available at an affordable annual cost of about $40 per person, following voluntary licensing agreements with generic manufacturers. This pricing structure will apply across Nigeria and 119 other low- and middle-income countries, significantly expanding access to the drug.

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“The Government of Nigeria is advancing preparations for the introduction and rollout of lenacapavir as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). This underscores our commitment to strengthen HIV prevention and accelerate progress toward epidemic control,” the statement said.

As part of readiness efforts, NACA revealed that landscape and preparedness assessments have been completed in 10 states — Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Benue, Cross River, Ebonyi, Gombe, Kano, Kwara, Lagos, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) — alongside regulatory clearance by NAFDAC.

Nigeria currently has an estimated 1.9 million people living with HIV, with a national prevalence rate of 1.3 percent among adults aged 15 to 49. In 2021, the country recorded 74,000 new HIV infections and 51,000 AIDS-related deaths, according to official data.

Women aged 15 to 49 are more than twice as likely as men to be living with HIV, while the South-South region bears the highest burden, with an HIV prevalence rate of 3.1 percent.

Health authorities say the arrival of Lenacapavir in Nigeria could mark a major turning point in HIV prevention, particularly for high-risk populations, as the country intensifies efforts to achieve long-term epidemic control.

Nigeria to Receive Breakthrough HIV Prevention Drug This Month – NACA