Nigeria is preparing to receive lenacapavir, a twice-yearly injectable drug that prevents HIV infection, local media report. This could be one of the most significant advances in HIV prevention in decades.
Nigeria’s National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) says the antiviral drug, which blocks HIV replication at several stages, offers a major advantage over alternative forms of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) drugs, which are daily oral medications, requiring ongoing supply and uptake. The initial rollout will prioritize high-risk groups. Nigeria carries one of the world’s largest HIV burdens by population.
Clinical trials of lenacapavir show near-complete protection among participants who received their scheduled doses on time.
