Saturday, September 27, 2025 - The Nigerian government has joined world leaders in announcing a landmark price reduction for lenacapavir, a revolutionary HIV prevention drug, at the sidelines of the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
The announcement was made on Thursday during the Clinton
Global Initiative (CGI) 2025 Annual Meeting in New York.
Under the new agreement, the cost of lenacapavir, a
twice-yearly injection proven to be up to 100 percent effective in preventing
HIV infection, will drop from $28,000 to just $40 per person annually. The
breakthrough deal is expected to make the medicine accessible to millions
across Nigeria and more than 100 low- and middle-income countries, a move
hailed as a major advance in global health equity.
Representing Nigeria at the event, the Director-General of
the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), Temitope Ilori, described
the announcement as a defining moment in the fight against HIV. “Today marks a
milestone in our fight against HIV, in Nigeria and globally. 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,” she said. Ilori
emphasized that the development ensures lifesaving innovation does not remain
the privilege of a few but is delivered equitably to those most in need.
HIV remains one of the most pressing public health
challenges worldwide. The virus attacks the immune system, leaving the body
vulnerable to infections and disease, and without treatment can lead to AIDS.
Common early symptoms include fever, rash, sore throat, fatigue, and weight
loss, although many people may remain without symptoms for years. The World
Health Organization (WHO) reports that by the end of 2024, approximately 40.8
million people were living with HIV globally, with nearly 65 percent based in
the African region. That same year, 630,000 people died of HIV-related causes,
while 1.3 million new infections were recorded, including 120,000 children.
While access to antiretroviral therapy (ART) continues to
grow, with 31.6 million people receiving treatment in 2024 compared to 30.3
million the year before, the burden in Nigeria remains significant. According
to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), HIV prevalence
among Nigerians aged 15–49 was estimated at 1.3 percent in 2023. The same year
saw around 30,000 HIV-related deaths among people aged 15 and above, while more
than 1.6 million Nigerians in that age group were receiving ART.
The World Health Organization has already recommended
injectable lenacapavir as an additional pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) option
for people at substantial risk of infection. Administered twice a year, the
treatment offers long-term protection, making it particularly attractive for
populations with limited access to health facilities.
The dramatic price reduction was made possible through
collaboration with UNITAID, the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), Wits
RHI, Dr Reddy’s Laboratories Ltd., and the Gates Foundation. The Gates
Foundation earlier announced a manufacturing partnership with Indian
pharmaceutical firm Hetero Labs to bring down production costs and expand
access globally.
Nigeria’s participation in the deal underscores its
leadership role at the UNGA in shaping global health solutions. Officials
stressed that the move reflects the government’s commitment to strengthening
health systems, expanding prevention programs, and accelerating progress toward
ending HIV as a public health threat by 2030.
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