Nigeria has secured a landmark deal to slash the cost of a twice-yearly HIV prevention injection, lenacapavir, from $28,000 to just $40 per person.
Dr. Temitope Ilori, Director-General of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), announced the breakthrough on Friday while representing Nigeria at a high-level session on the sidelines of the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York.
He said the price reduction would make the drug accessible to millions in Nigeria and beyond, adding that lenacapavir is up to 100 percent effective in preventing new HIV infections.
“Through this landmark access agreement, we are unlocking affordable access to lenacapavir, a transformational new HIV prevention option that offers longer protection, greater convenience, and renewed hope to millions at risk,” Ilori said.
“This agreement ensures that this breakthrough innovation does not remain a privilege for the few. It pairs innovation with equity.”
The deal was made possible through collaboration with UNITAID, the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), Wits RHI, Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories Ltd. (DRL), and the Gates Foundation.
Nigeria, which was certified free of wild poliovirus in 2020 but continues to battle HIV and other public health threats, says the agreement highlights its commitment to health equity, stronger systems, and partnerships that can accelerate progress toward ending HIV as a public health challenge by 2030.
