Nigerian Researchers lead Global Discussion on Novel HIV/STI Prevention ‘Doxy-PEP’ at AIDS2024 Conference

Ugo Aliogo

Nigerian researchers have taken centre stage in a high-level global conversation on doxycycline post-exposure prophylaxis (Doxy-PEP), a novel strategy for preventing sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV.

During the session at the 25th International AIDS Conference (AIDS2024) held in Munich, Germany, organisers and regulators advocated for clear guidelines on surveillance, stewardship, and supply-chain quality to guide responsible adoption in settings with weaker pharmaceutical sector oversight.

The Global Village programme, titled “Doxy-PEP in Poorly-regulated Settings: The Standpoints”, was organised by the leadership of the Person-Centred HIV Research Team (PeCHIVReT): AbdulMuminu Isah, Gabriel Ezenri, Chukwuemeka Nwachuya, Jennifer Onyehalu, and Charles Idabor.

Jennifer Cocohoba, a professor at the College of Pharmacy, University of California, San Francisco, and an HIV expert, chaired the session, bringing in insights from an advanced setting. The discussion brought together regulators, clinicians, and implementers to evaluate promising clinical evidence against the risks of antimicrobial resistance in real-world delivery.

Nigeria’s regulatory presence was strong at the forum. The Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, was represented by Dr. Abiola S. Abiodun of the National Pharmacovigilance Centre, while Prof. Martins Emeje, Director-General of the Nigeria Natural Medicine Development Agency (NNMDA), also joined the discussion. Their involvement signalled Nigeria’s commitment to pharmacovigilance and quality assurance as Doxy-PEP moves from research to practice.

Session materials reviewed data showing that when taken as 200 mg within 24–72 hours after condomless sex, Doxy-PEP reduces syphilis and chlamydia in key populations. Speakers further highlighted the need to expand research into less-studied groups, while underscoring the importance of provider training and routine STI testing.

The forum stressed that in poorly regulated markets, programmes must confront challenges such as risk compensation, atypical STI presentations, microbiome effects, and mounting antimicrobial-resistance pressures. It emphasised that antibiotic stewardship, post-market surveillance, and robust supply-chain integrity must be non-negotiable elements of programme design.

From the outset, the session balanced potential public-health benefits against the risk of antimicrobial resistance, offering practical solutions for limited-oversight contexts. This approach advanced PeCHIVReT’s mission to deliver person-centred, evidence-driven HIV prevention through ethics-grounded research and implementation science.

By convening regulators, implementers, and communities at AIDS2024’s Global Village, the team co-designed responsible Doxy-PEP pathways, helping to translate emerging science into delivery models and policy signals for Nigeria and similar low-resource settings.