NIGERIA’s rollout of Lenacapavir, a long-acting HIV prevention drug hailed as a scientific breakthrough, is being framed by health experts as an important addition – not a cure-all – in the country’s fight against HIV.
Dr. Adebayo Opeyemi, Senior Program Manager at the Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN) and HIV Program Lead for the Global Fund GC7 Nigeria TB-HIV Reach Integration and Impact Project (N-THRIP), said the drug will be deployed strictly within a broader, integrated prevention strategy.
“Lenacapavir will not be implemented as a standalone intervention,” he said, stressing that effective HIV prevention relies on a combination of behavioural, biomedical and structural approaches.
The introduction of the drug comes at a challenging moment, as funding constraints continue to put pressure on Nigeria’s HIV response. Even so, its long-acting formulation – requiring doses only twice a year after initiation – offers a practical alternative for individuals who struggle with daily medication or frequent clinic visits.
Dr. Opeyemi explained that HIV prevention begins with testing. Those who test negative are supported to remain negative through appropriate prevention methods, while those who test positive are promptly started on treatment to achieve viral suppression – effectively eliminating the risk of transmission.
He noted that Lenacapavir expands a growing range of biomedical options already available in Nigeria, including daily oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and long-acting injectable cabotegravir.
“The key value is choice,” he said. “Individuals can select the option that best fits their circumstances, improving uptake and continuity.”
According to him, the drug is particularly suited for people with intermittent or unpredictable exposure to HIV risk, as well as those who prefer more discreet prevention methods. Its extended dosing schedule reduces the burden of adherence and could improve retention in prevention programmes.
He added that other approaches, such as event-driven PrEP for planned exposure, remain relevant, underscoring the need to tailor interventions to individual risk profiles.
Ultimately, experts say the impact of Lenacapavir will depend on how effectively it is integrated into Nigeria’s health system and sustained amid funding challenges – turning scientific promise into real-world prevention gains.
