Nigeria to receive HIV prevention drug in March, says NACA
The National Agency for the Control of AIDS has declared that Nigeria will receive Lenacapavir, an innovative HIV prevention medication that has demonstrated 100% efficacy in preventing HIV infection during clinical trials.
A brief statement issued by the Head of Public Relations at NACA, Toyin Aderibigbe, on Monday indicated that the agency has obtained regulatory approval from the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control.
Lenacapavir is an injectable treatment that is administered biannually, providing a more convenient option compared to daily oral preventive medications.
The drug is anticipated to be accessible in Nigeria and 119 other low- and middle-income nations at a reasonable cost of $40 per person per year, facilitated by voluntary licensing agreements with generic manufacturers.
“The Government of Nigeria is making progress in preparations for the introduction and distribution of Lenacapavir as Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP).
“This initiative is part of the government’s dedication to enhancing HIV prevention and expediting efforts towards epidemic control,” the statement stated.
NACA highlighted several key achievements, including the completion of landscape and readiness assessments across ten states: Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Benue, Cross River, Ebonyi, FCT, Gombe, Kano, Kwara, and Lagos, along with regulatory approval from NAFDAC.
“The commodities are expected to arrive in the country by March 2026,” NACA remarked.
Nigeria is home to approximately 1.9 million individuals living with HIV, with a national prevalence rate of 1.3% among adults aged 15-49 years.
In 2021, the country reported 74,000 new HIV infections and 51,000 AIDS-related fatalities.
The South-South region has the highest HIV prevalence at 3.1%, and women aged 15-49 years are more than twice as likely to be living with HIV compared to men.
