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The Federal Government has warned that the newly introduced long-acting HIV prevention injection, Lenacapavir<\/strong> (LenPrEP), is not recommended for use among pregnant women.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Director-General of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS<\/strong>, Temitope Ilori<\/strong>, 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<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cEven 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,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Also speaking, the National Coordinator of the National AIDS and STDs Control Programme, Adebobola Bashorun<\/strong>, said the government is working to expand access to the drug across more states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAs we scale up, we are exploring catalytic funding to increase the number of doses and extend coverage to populations most at risk,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Bashorun added that the injection would complement existing preventive options such as oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), rather than replace them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He noted that reported side effects have been mild, mostly limited to pain at the injection site, with ongoing monitoring to ensure safety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Earlier, the Minister of State for Health, Iziaq Salako<\/strong>, said the rollout of the drug is being supported through a partnership with the Global Fund<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He added that Nigeria is exploring opportunities for local production and technology transfer to ensure long-term sustainability and reduce reliance on external donors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lenacapavir, developed by Gilead Sciences<\/strong>, 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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\u2019s broader HIV response strategy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Health authorities, however, maintain that while Lenacapavir is a significant addition, it is not a standalone solution to Nigeria\u2019s HIV prevention challenges.<\/p>\n\n