FG restricts new HIV prevention injection for pregnant women, cites safety gaps
The Federal Government has warned that the newly introduced long-acting HIV prevention injection, Lenacapavir (LenPrEP), is not recommended for use among pregnant women.
The Director-General of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS, Temitope Ilori, disclosed this during a media briefing organised by the National HIV, Viral Hepatitis and STDs Control Programme under the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare in Abuja.
Ilori explained that while global studies indicate a high safety profile for the drug, its use during pregnancy remains restricted due to insufficient evidence on its effects in that group.
“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.
She described Lenacapavir as a major innovation in HIV prevention but stressed that it does not protect against other sexually transmitted infections or diseases such as hepatitis.
Also speaking, the National Coordinator of the National AIDS and STDs Control Programme, Adebobola Bashorun, said the government is working to expand 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 added that the injection would complement existing preventive options such as oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), rather than replace them.
He noted that reported side effects have been mild, mostly limited to pain at the injection site, with ongoing monitoring to ensure safety.
Earlier, the Minister of State for Health, Iziaq Salako, said the rollout of the drug is being supported through a partnership with the Global Fund.
He added that Nigeria is exploring opportunities for local production and technology transfer to ensure long-term sustainability and reduce reliance on external donors.
Lenacapavir, developed by Gilead Sciences, has gained global attention as a breakthrough in HIV prevention. Administered twice yearly, it offers a more convenient alternative to daily oral PrEP, particularly for individuals who struggle with adherence.
Nigeria carries one of the highest HIV burdens globally, with about 1.9 million people living with the virus, according to data from the National Agency for the Control of AIDS.
While experts have hailed the drug as a potential game-changer, they caution that its impact will depend on equitable access, sustained funding and effective integration into the country’s broader HIV response strategy.
Concerns also remain about affordability, long-term financing and the capacity of the health system to support widespread rollout, especially given the heavy reliance on donor funding for HIV programmes.
Health authorities, however, maintain that while Lenacapavir is a significant addition, it is not a standalone solution to Nigeria’s HIV prevention challenges.
