The Federal Government has cautioned that the newly introduced long-acting HIV prevention injection, Lenacapavir, is not suitable for use among pregnant women due to limited evidence on its safety during pregnancy.
The Director-General of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS, Temitope Ilori, issued the warning on Monday 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 although global studies indicate that the drug is generally safe, its use in pregnant women remains restricted.
“Even though Lenacapavir is considered safe based on available global data, it is not recommended for pregnant women because there is not enough evidence about its effects in that group,” she said. “It is important to note that this is a preventive measure, not a treatment for HIV.”
She described the injection as an important advancement in HIV prevention but stressed that it does not protect against other sexually transmitted infections.
“We must emphasise that it does not prevent other infections such as hepatitis. People still need to adopt comprehensive preventive measures,” Ilori added.
Also speaking, the National Coordinator of the National AIDS and STDs Control Programme, Adebobola Bashorun, said efforts were ongoing to expand access to the drug across the country.
“As we scale up distribution, we are exploring additional funding options to increase supply and reach more vulnerable populations,” he said.
“This drug will complement existing prevention methods, not replace them.”
Bashorun noted that other options, such as oral pre-exposure prophylaxis, remain available, adding that national guidelines would determine how best to integrate the new injection into existing programmes.
On safety, he said side effects recorded so far have been mild.
“The most common reactions are limited to pain at the injection site, which is expected. We are closely monitoring for any adverse effects, and the results so far are encouraging,” he said.
The Minister of State for Health, Iziaq Salako, also highlighted that the rollout of Lenacapavir in Nigeria is being supported through international partnerships.
“This initiative is being implemented with support from global partners. Moving forward, we hope to engage manufacturers directly and explore local production options,” he said.
Lenacapavir, developed by Gilead Sciences, has gained global attention as a breakthrough in HIV prevention due to its long-acting formulation, requiring just two injections per year, unlike daily oral alternatives.
