Nigeria faces Lenacapavir shortages as HIV prevention demand rises

Demand for Lenacapavir, a twice-yearly injectable HIV prevention drug, is rising across Nigeria, leading to supply shortages in several pilot states. Benue, Kwara, Gombe, and Cross River have reported stock-outs only months after the Federal Government began its pilot rollout.

The injection is increasingly sought after by sex workers and other high-risk groups because it offers an alternative to daily oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), providing greater privacy and eliminating the need for daily medication. While some states face shortages, health officials in Lagos report having sufficient doses but are experiencing low uptake among eligible residents.

The National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) attributed some of the shortages to funding and logistics challenges, though it noted that stock-outs in specific states do not necessarily indicate a nationwide shortage. Lenacapavir was developed by Gilead Sciences and was recommended by the World Health Organization in 2025.