Nigeria: Cheap Version of Breakthrough HIV Prevention Shot Approved

What the report says

The US Food and Drug Administration has approved a low-cost generic version of lenacapavir, a twice-yearly HIV prevention injection, according to Daily Trust and its distribution on AllAfrica. The approval was announced by Dr Reddy’s Laboratories, the Indian manufacturer of the generic, and by Unitaid, a global health initiative. The move is expected to make the drug more accessible in lower-income settings and in the 120 countries covered by the pricing arrangement.

Daily Trust reported that the generic version will cost $40 per person per year under an agreement reached in September 2025 involving Dr Reddy’s, Unitaid, Wits RHI and the Clinton Health Access Initiative. The article said the shot is meant for HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP, and is intended to offer a longer-acting option than daily pills, which require consistent use to be effective.

The report also noted that lenacapavir was originally developed by Gilead and won US approval in June 2025 after clinical trials showed very high effectiveness. Public health groups have argued that lower-cost, long-acting prevention tools could help widen access to HIV prevention, especially where daily adherence has been a barrier. The announcement is significant because it could speed the rollout of a promising prevention method in countries with limited healthcare budgets.