Credits: Canva
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Credit: AI-generated image
The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently banned the sale, distribution, and use of several fairness creams after dangerous levels of toxic heavy metals, including lead and mercury, were found in the products.
Among the products, one named Goree Beauty Cream is of Pakistani origin. The product was reportedly being sold unlawfully in the state.
The FDA labelled the products “Not of Standard Quality” (NSQ), warning consumers against using them as prolonged exposure to heavy metals present in the products can lead to serious health complications associated with skin, kidneys as well as the nervous system.
According to the Maharashtra FDA, the following cosmetic products have been declared unsafe:
Officials also noted that the products lacked mandatory information like the manufacturer's complete details, batch number, manufacturing date, and expiry date, raising concerns over their authenticity and safety.
If used repeatedly, these toxic substances may be absorbed through the skin, allowing them to accumulate in the body over time.
Excessive exposure to mercury can cause:
The risk increases with prolonged use, particularly when the products are used on a daily basis over months or years.
Also read: Australia Reports More H5 Bird Flu Cases: Does It Have Pandemic Potential?
On the other hand, lead exposure can cause:
Even if lead accumulates in the body in small amounts, its repeated use may pose long-term health risks.
Sometimes, mercury is illegally added to skin-lightening products as it suppresses melanin production, temporarily making the skin appear lighter. However, this skin-lightening effect comes at the cost of significant health risks.
Lead may contaminate cosmetic products through poor-quality raw materials or unsafe manufacturing processes. Neither ingredient should be intentionally present in cosmetic creams sold for routine use.
International health agencies have repeatedly warned against skin-lightening creams containing mercury.
In June 2026, the US FDA again cautioned consumers not to use over-the-counter skin-lightening products found to contain mercury or hydroquinone because of the risk of kidney injury, neurological damage, and permanent skin problems.
The Maharashtra FDA's crackdown highlights the hidden dangers of unregulated and illegal fairness creams that contain harmful ingredients.
While these products may promise lighter skin, the presence of toxic heavy metals such as mercury and lead can expose users to potentially irreversible health damage. Consumers are advised to read the labels carefully before purchasing any skincare products that promise complexion-altering effects.
Credit: AI-generated image
Usually, the most telling symptoms of Alzheimer's disease surface in old age. With no cure and limited ways to detect it early, it is challenging to treat and manage Alzheimer's. However, a recent study says that a new blood test can help in diagnosing Alzheimer's early.
A new blood test that measures tiny loops of genetic material in the bloodstream may be able to predict when Alzheimer's disease symptoms are likely to appear, offering hope for earlier intervention of the neurodegenerative disease and more effective clinical trials.
A study funded by the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) says that a specific group of blood-based biomarkers known as circular RNAs could help identify people who are on the brink of developing Alzheimer's symptoms, even before memory loss or cognitive decline becomes apparent.
The current blood tests for Alzheimer's have been made after significant progress in recent years, particularly by detecting proteins linked to amyloid plaques, one of the disease's primary characteristics features.
However, these tests may present positive results for many years, even decades, before symptoms like declining memory and thinking appear. It makes it difficult for doctors to predict when the disease will actually begin affecting the patient’s quality of life.
The newly developed blood test could fill that existing gap. Scientists found that elevated levels of a set of 34 circular RNAs in blood were strongly associated with future symptoms of the onset.
According to the study, those with higher circRNA levels were nearly three times more likely to develop Alzheimer's symptoms compared with those with lower levels.
The changes appeared approximately two to four years before symptoms emerged, making them a valuable diagnostic test for predicting disease progression.
The discovery could transform existing Alzheimer's research by helping scientists identify participants who are most likely to develop symptoms during a clinical trial.
Finding out when symptoms are likely to begin would allow researchers to introduce preventive therapies at the stage when they are most likely to be effective and better evaluate whether experimental treatments can delay cognitive decline.
The current methods to assess Alzheimer's include PET brain scans, which are expensive and not widely available. Lumbar punctures (spinal taps), an invasive method, is also used.
Compared to the existing methods to screen Alzheimer's, a blood test is easier to perform, less invasive, more affordable and more accessible, especially if validated for widespread clinical use.
If doctors can ascertain the symptoms early, patients and their families can, patients’ families can plan future care and support. They can use the time to make financial and legal decisions while the person is still cognitively healthy. Patients can also adopt lifestyle changes that may help maintain brain health.
Researchers however stressed that the new circRNA test is still in the research stage and requires further validation in larger and more diverse populations before it can be adopted in clinical practice.
Credit: AI-generated image
The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a global medical product alert after identifying falsified batches of the cancer medicine DARZALEX (daratumumab). It also issued a warning that the counterfeit products could cause serious health risks to patients and disrupt the treatment process.
The WHO issued an alert against the circulation of falsified DARZALEX (daratumumab). The incident came to light in May and June 2026. According to the WHO, the falsified injections were found in the Maldives and Mexico after being supplied by unauthorised distributors.
In at least one reported case, hospitals received fake medication, prompting international concern over gaps in the pharmaceutical supply chain.
DARZALEX (daratumumab) is an antibody that is used to treat multiple myeloma, cancer of plasma cells in the bone marrow, as well as amyloid light-chain (AL) amyloidosis, a rare blood disorder.
The drug plays a crucial role in the treatment of various types of cancer. That is why the WHO said that the circulation of its compromised version could cause delayed therapy, treatment failure, and potentially life-threatening consequences.
Read more: Why Sustainable Weight Loss Requires More Than Cutting Calories
WHO said the fake products deliberately misrepresent their identity, composition, or source. The manufacturer, Janssen, confirmed that the batch numbers MYS7381 and STV1K01 are not valid, and any DARZALEX product bearing these batch numbers should be considered falsified and must not be used.
The Maldives Food and Drug Authority also reported visible particulate matter inside vials from one of the counterfeit batches.
The UN health agency has urged national regulatory health bodies, healthcare providers, wholesalers, and distributors to strengthen security across the pharmaceutical supply chains to prevent the infiltration of counterfeits.
It also advised countries to closely monitor unregulated pharmaceutical markets, where counterfeit medicines are more likely to circulate.
Read more: ICMR & IIT Bombay Create Placenta-On-Chip To Study Pregnancy Disorders & Drug Safety
WHO issued precautionary measures to avoid purchasing falsified medications:
The latest warning adds to a growing list of WHO medical product alerts involving counterfeit cancer medicines.
In recent years, the WHO has issued alerts for various falsified cancer drugs including IMFINZI (durvalumab), IBRANCE (palbociclib) and DEFITELIO (defibrotide), highlighting the growing threat of counterfeit medicines that could disrupt life-saving treatment courses.
The WHO estimates that more than one in ten medical products in underdeveloped and developed countries are either substandard or falsified, making poor-quality medicines one of the world's major public health challenges.
© 2024 Bennett, Coleman & Company Limited