Japan could become one of the first countries in the world to end the HIV epidemic, says the president of Gilead Sciences Japan, Kennet Brysting. The idea for now could seem a little too ambitious, but it is not entirely unrealistic, given that the availability of medicines that can prevent transmission of HIV. Drugs are not the cure, but control over the spread of virus to the point where the disease is no longer a major public health threat.

What Is The Role Of Preventative HIV Medicines?

Gilead's have two key drugs, Truvada and lenacapavir. These two are playing a crucial role in prevention. Truvada is taken as a daily pill, while lenacapavir requires two injections per year. It can make the virus undetectable in infected individuals and prevent transmission to those who are not infected yet. In trials, lenacapavir showed 100% efficacy in preventing HIV infections. This is why it is describe as "almost a vaccine".

In 2024, Japan also approved Truvada for HIV prevention, but the country has yet to approve lenacapavir for the same. Until now, people in Japan had been importing generic versions of Truvada or purchasing it from clinics that source it from overseas.

HIV In Japan

Up until now, Japan reported around 25,000 HIV infections, whereas 669 new cases were reported in 2023. For seven consecutive years, the number of new infections remained under 1,000. The downward trend thus shows that the virus has been controlled, however, getting to zero new infections remains the ultimate goal.

Brysting too acknowledged that simply having effective drug is not enough. What is important is to have a proper implementation, access and healthcare support to make sure that these treatments are widely available and effective.

What Are The Challenges In Implementation?

The biggest challenges is testing rates. There is a need to increase testing rates. At this very moment, around 86% people infective with Japan have been tested, but the goal is to increase it up to 95%, with an ideal goal of 100%. Without widespread testing, many infected people may not even know that they are infected and it could transmit the virus.

Another measure issue is the cost of preventative medication. While Japan's health insurance covers treatments for diseases, it does not cover preventative drugs. Those who purchase Truvada for prevention, pay around $470 per month. Some clinics in Tokyo offer generic alternatives too, which is cheaper, but they are not ideal.

Better Healthcare Support

Brysting expressed concern that individuals importing medications might not be consulting doctors regularly, which is essential for monitoring HIV status and overall health. Truvada users need to be tested for HIV initially and every three months, along with screenings for other infections and kidney function checks. Without proper medical supervision, there is a risk of misuse and inadequate protection.

Gilead is in discussions with Japanese authorities to improve access and insurance coverage for Truvada, and progress is being made. Japan has shown efficiency in approving critical medicines, as seen during the COVID-19 pandemic when Gilead’s remdesivir was approved in just three days.

What Is The Way Ahead?

Gilead at this moment is not only focused on HIV and hepatitis C, but also expanding into oncology with innovative treatments like CAR-T cell therapy, which strengthens a patient's immune system to fight cancer.

However, Japan’s strict approval processes can slow down drug availability. Phase 3 clinical trials often need to be conducted within the country, and Japan tends to approve medicines much later than other regions. For instance, Truvada was approved for prevention in Japan 12 years after the U.S. and nearly 20 years after its approval for treatment. inancial factors also play a role. The Japanese government adjusts drug prices annually, often reducing them, which can make long-term investment challenging for pharmaceutical companies.

A simple blood test that measures androgen hormone levels could help diagnose endometriosis with more than 95 per cent accuracy, according to new research.

The University of Edinburgh-led findings offer hope for a faster, less invasive way to detect the condition, which affects an estimated 10 per cent of women of reproductive age worldwide—around 190 million people—and often takes years to diagnose.

The researchers found that women with endometriosis have a distinct androgen hormone profile in their blood, suggesting the condition could one day be identified through a simple blood test rather than invasive procedures.

Study Identifies a Unique Hormone Signature

Also read: NHS To Roll Out Two 'Gamechanger' Tests for Faster Endometriosis Diagnosis: Know How They Work

The research team analyzed blood samples from 159 women with confirmed endometriosis and 57 women without the condition. Their investigation focused on androgen hormones, including a lesser-studied group known as 11-oxygenated androgens, which are produced by the adrenal glands.

The researchers discovered that women with endometriosis consistently had higher levels of 11-ketotestosterone, one of the 11-oxygenated androgens.

Using this distinct hormone profile, the team was able to differentiate women with and without endometriosis, correctly identifying more than 95 per cent of those with the condition.

If validated in larger clinical studies, the test could reduce reliance on invasive diagnostic procedures such as laparoscopy and help women receive treatment much earlier.

The findings also provide new insights into the role of androgens in the development of endometriosis and may help guide future treatment strategies.

Why Androgens Matter

Endometriosis occurs when tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside the womb. These cells respond to hormones, leading to inflammation, chronic pelvic pain and the formation of scar tissue.

While the disease is known to be influenced by the female hormones estrogen and progesterone, the role of androgens—often referred to as male hormones, though they are naturally present in women as well—has received comparatively little attention.

The researchers believe the newly identified androgen signature could improve understanding of how the disease develops and progresses.

Read More: 13.5 Million Children Remain Zero-Dose In 2025 Despite Global Vaccination Gains: UN Report

Why Earlier Diagnosis Is Important

Diagnosing endometriosis remains a major challenge. Current methods include ultrasound, MRI scans and laparoscopy—a surgical procedure in which a camera is inserted through a small incision in the abdomen to confirm the presence of endometrial-like tissue.

Because symptoms often overlap with those of other conditions, many women wait years before receiving a diagnosis. Earlier diagnosis could help reduce prolonged pain, limit disease progression and allow patients to begin treatment sooner, said the researchers, while stressing the need for larger studies.

What Is Endometriosis?

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), endometriosis is a chronic condition in which tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus. It most commonly affects the ovaries, fallopian tubes and the tissue lining the pelvis.

The condition can begin with a person's first menstrual period and continue until menopause. Common symptoms include severe pelvic pain, painful periods, pain during intercourse, bowel or urinary symptoms during menstruation, and difficulty conceiving.

The recent rise in COVID-19 cases and deaths in Andhra Pradesh has renewed concerns over the virus, prompting neighbouring states such as Tamil Nadu and Odisha to step up surveillance. Andhra Pradesh has reported three COVID-related deaths along with several active cases.

However, health experts say the current situation does not indicate a major public health threat and have urged people to focus on prevention rather than panic.

Tamil Nadu's Health Department has also clarified that there is no evidence of a highly virulent COVID-19 variant circulating in the state. Officials noted that current COVID-19 infections remain lower than in previous years.

Virus Continues To Evolve

Also read: Omicron Sub-Lineages Likely Behind COVID Surge In India: Why Deaths Are Occurring

"The SARS-CoV-2 virus never truly disappears; it continues to resurface through new mutations. Viral strains naturally mutate as part of their evolution, making viral illnesses highly dynamic," Dr Abha Mashur, Pulmonologist at Lilavati Hospital and Research Centre, Mumbai, told HealthandMe.

She said the key concern is not the emergence of new variants, but the severity of disease they cause.

"At present, we are predominantly seeing upper respiratory involvement and milder cases of viral illness," said Dr Mashur, adding that Lilavati Hospital has admitted only one or two COVID-19 patients recently, all of whom required monitoring but experienced only mild illness.

Who Is At Higher Risk?

While most infections are mild, experts caution that certain groups remain vulnerable to severe disease. These include:

• Elderly individuals
• Pregnant women
• People with chronic heart disease
• Patients with COPD or interstitial lung disease (ILD)
• Those with chronic kidney or liver disease
• Immunocompromised individuals.

Read More: 13.5 Million Children Remain Zero-Dose In 2025 Despite Global Vaccination Gains: UN Report

Omicron Subvariants Circulating In India

According to Dr Mashur, the current wave is being driven by Omicron subvariants — the JN.1 variant and the BA.3.2 variant — that remain highly transmissible but are not causing severe illness in most people.

JN.1: The expert explained that the JN.1 variant is highly transmissible and possesses enhanced immune-evasion capabilities, allowing it to partially bypass immunity from previous infection or vaccination. However, she said it continues to cause predominantly mild illness compared to earlier variants.

BA.3.2: The BA.3.2 variant has accumulated a large number of mutations, raising concerns about immune escape. Despite this, available evidence suggests it has not led to more severe disease and is not currently considered a cause for alarm.

No Need for Panic

The experts stressed that the current rise in cases should encourage vigilance rather than fear. Vaccination, masking in high-risk settings, and early medical consultation remain the most effective tools to reduce transmission and protect vulnerable populations.

"The current situation should not create panic, but should prompt people to seek medical attention early. Those who develop symptoms of a viral infection should avoid public spaces and consult a doctor promptly so that transmission can be curtailed at the earliest," Dr Mashur said.

Dr Neha Rastogi, Senior Consultant, Infectious Diseases, Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurugram, urged people to continue following basic preventive measures.

"To reduce the risk of infection, people should stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccinations, wear masks in crowded indoor settings, maintain hand hygiene, ensure good ventilation, and avoid close contact when unwell. Anyone experiencing symptoms such as fever, cough, or breathlessness should get tested and seek timely medical advice."

The debate around the effects of late-night eating on metabolism and overall fitness is not new. A new study has found a strong link between night owls’ time of eating and their metabolic health.

The study observes that those who stayed late at night tend to have poor metabolic health and effectively more body fat than those who didn’t, as they tend to have the lion’s share of their calories in the later part of the day.

How Was The Study Conducted?

The study examines an important area of nutrition called chrononutrition, which basically refers to how the time of eating affects the body’s circadian rhythm. It investigated how chronotype is associated with dietary intake, meal timing, body composition, and metabolic health.

Published in Frontiers in Nutrition, the study observed 287 healthy women aged 18 to 45 from New Zealand. Their food intake was studied for five days along with their meal timings.

Participants were classified as morning, intermediate, or evening chronotypes using a validated questionnaire. They also recorded everything they ate and drank over five days.

Researchers studied body composition using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), a highly accurate method for measuring body fat, and analyzed metabolic markers including glucose, insulin, cholesterol, and triglycerides.

Also read: India Gets Its First Plant-Based Vitamin D3: What You Need to Know

What Did The Study Find?

The study found that women with an evening chronotype had higher body mass index (BMI), a higher percentage of body fat, and more abdominal fat compared with morning and intermediate chronotypes.

Interestingly, these differences were observed even though total daily calorie intake did not significantly differ between the groups.

The study also found that rather than eating more food overall, evening chronotypes tended to delay their meals and consumed a larger proportion of their daily calories later in the day.

The findings indicate that when people eat may play an important role in metabolic health along with what and how much they eat.

The researchers wrote, “Our findings indicate that women with a later chronotype tend to have higher body fat and consume a greater proportion of their energy intake later in the day.”

Also read: Why Sustainable Weight Loss Requires More Than Cutting Calories

Why Meal Timings Affect Your Metabolism?

Although the current study directly does not determine whether late eating directly causes higher body fat, it observes a pattern that chronotype and meal timing are important factors to consider in order to achieve a better fitness level.

The body's internal clock is responsible for regulating many metabolic processes, including blood sugar control, insulin sensitivity, and digestion, among others. Late night eating not only interferes with insulin sensitivity but also impairs your metabolic health.

Research has repeatedly shown that these processes function a lot more efficiently earlier in the day. Eating a large proportion of daily calories late in the evening is therefore less favorable for metabolism as it can lead to increased fat accumulation over time.

With time, those with evening chronotype are at a greater risk of obesity and obesity-related chronic lifestyle disorders like hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol, heart disease, and more.