New HIV Injection Lenacapavir Not Recommended For Pregnant Women — NACA DG

The director-general of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), Temitope Ilori, has clarified that the newly introduced long-acting HIV prevention injection, Lenacapavir (LenPrEP), is not approved for use among pregnant women.

Ilori gave this clarification 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 explained that while global clinical studies indicate a strong safety profile for the drug, its use during pregnancy remains restricted due to insufficient evidence.

“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,” Ilori said.

Describing Lenacapavir as a major innovation in HIV prevention, Ilori, however, cautioned that the injection does not offer protection against other sexually transmitted infections.

“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.

Also speaking, the national coordinator of the National AIDS and STDs Control Programme, Adebobola Bashorun, said the federal 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,” Bashorun said.

He noted that Lenacapavir is intended to complement—not replace—existing HIV prevention methods such as oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP).

“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.

On safety, Bashorun said reported side effects have been mild and largely limited to reactions at the injection site.

“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, Iziaq Salako, disclosed that the rollout of Lenacapavir in Nigeria is being supported through collaboration with 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,” Salako said.

He added that technology transfer and domestic manufacturing would be key to long-term sustainability and reducing reliance on donor funding.

Developed by Gilead Sciences, Lenacapavir has drawn global attention as a potential breakthrough in HIV prevention. Unlike daily oral PrEP, it is administered just twice a year, offering a more convenient option for individuals who struggle with adherence.

Nigeria continues to bear a significant HIV burden, with an estimated 1.9 million people living with the virus, according to NACA. While progress has been made in expanding access to treatment, prevention gaps remain—particularly among key populations and young people.

Public health experts have described Lenacapavir as a “game-changer,” but stress that its impact will depend on equitable access, sustained funding, and effective integration into the country’s broader HIV response.

Concerns also persist around affordability, long-term financing, and the readiness of Nigeria’s health system to support widespread rollout. With HIV programmes still largely donor-funded, stakeholders warn of sustainability risks if international support declines.

There are further calls to ensure that the introduction of new technologies like Lenacapavir does not divert attention and resources from other critical health priorities, including malaria control, maternal health, and routine immunisation.

For now, health authorities maintain that while Lenacapavir is a significant addition to Nigeria’s HIV prevention toolkit, it is not a standalone solution.