The global fight against HIV suffered a major setback in early 2025 after the United States suspended funding for foreign HIV programs.
This decision, part of a 90-day freeze on all development aid, triggered global concern about a possible resurgence of the AIDS epidemic, especially in developing nations like Nigeria.
However, there is a glimmer of hope. The World Health Organization (WHO) has approved a powerful new HIV prevention drug called lenacapavir. This long-acting medication only needs to be taken twice a year.
Experts say it could transform how HIV is prevented, especially in places with weak healthcare access.
Gilead Sciences, the company behind lenacapavir, has announced a deal with the Global Fund to supply the drug at no profit.
The agreement covers up to 2 million people in low- and lower-middle-income countries, including Nigeria.
According to Gilead CEO Daniel O’Day, the company will only charge for the cost of producing and delivering the medicine.
“We are providing the medicine at no profit to Gilead,” he said in a statement, “and in enough supply to reach up to two million people.”
Peter Sands, Executive Director of the Global Fund, said lenacapavir could “fundamentally change the trajectory of the HIV epidemic.”
But he warned that success depends on reaching those who need it most. “Our ambition is to reach two million people with long-acting PrEP,” Sands noted, “but we can only do that if the world steps up with the resources required.”
HIV, which attacks the body’s immune cells, is usually spread through unprotected sex or shared needles.
If left untreated, it can lead to AIDS, which causes weight loss, night sweats, and frequent infections. There is still no cure for AIDS, but antiretroviral therapy (ARV) helps people manage the virus and live longer, healthier lives.
With the new WHO-approved drug, many see a chance to reach more vulnerable communities before the epidemic regains momentum.
Although the US funding freeze remains in place, the rollout of lenacapavir may help fill the gap. The drug’s promise lies in its ease of use, reliability, and ability to prevent infection with just two doses per year.
If scaled fairly and efficiently, lenacapavir could reshape HIV prevention across Africa. In a time of uncertainty, it stands as a beacon of hope.