Director-General of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), Temitope Ilori, has warned pregnant women to avoid taking the newly introduced long-acting HIV prevention injection, Lenacapavir (LenPrEP).
Ilori gave the warning on Monday 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.
She said although global clinical studies have shown a high safety margin for the drug, its use in pregnancy remained restricted due to insufficient evidence on its effects in that population.
“Even though LenPrEP is considered very safe based on global studies, it is not recommended for pregnant women. It is important to emphasise that this is a preventive intervention, not a treatment,” she said.
The DG described Lenacapavir as a highly innovative addition to HIV prevention tools but cautioned that it does not protect against other sexually transmitted infections, including hepatitis.
“We must stress that it does not prevent sexually transmitted infections or other infections like hepatitis. People must continue to take comprehensive precautions,” she added.
On his part, the National Coordinator of the National AIDS and STDs Control Programme, Adebobola Bashorun, disclosed that the Federal Government was 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”, he said.
Bashorun 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.
Furthermore, Bashorun explained that reported side effects had 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, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Salako, stated that the introduction of Lenacapavir in Nigeria was 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,” he said.
He added that discussions around technology transfer and domestic manufacturing would be critical to ensuring long-term sustainability and reducing dependence on external donors.
Lenacapavir, a long-acting injectable developed by Gilead Sciences, has recently gained global attention as a potential breakthrough in HIV prevention. Unlike daily oral PrEP, it is administered as an injection twice a year, offering a more convenient option for individuals who struggle with adherence.
Nigeria received its first shipment of the long-acting injectable HIV prevention drug, lenacapavir, on March 10, 2026. The consignment, which included 11,520 doses, was delivered to the Federal Central Stores in Lagos, supported by The Global Fund to strengthen HIV prevention efforts.
