Nigeria Warns Against Lenacapavir Use in Pregnant Women

The Federal Government of Nigeria, represented by Temitope Ilori, Director of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS, announced that the newly introduced long-acting HIV prevention injection, Lenacapavir, is not recommended for use among pregnant women. This clarification was made during a media briefing on Monday, where Ilori explained that while global clinical studies indicate a high safety margin for the drug, its use in pregnancy remains restricted due to insufficient evidence regarding its effects on this population.

Lenacapavir is considered a highly innovative addition to HIV prevention tools but does not protect against sexually transmitted infections, including hepatitis. Adebobola Bashorun, National Coordinator of the National AIDS and STDs Control Programme, noted that the federal government is working to expand access to the drug across states.

The introduction of Lenacapavir is seen as a potential game changer in Nigeria, which has one of the largest HIV burdens globally, with an estimated 1.9 million people living with HIV.