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.

Indian scientists from ICMR-NIRWoH and IIT Bombay have developed "placenta-on-chip" platform that mimics key functions of the human placenta. The indigenous innovation could transform maternal and fetal health studies while reducing dependence on animal testing.

Indian Scientists Develop Placenta-On-Chip

In a major breakthrough for pregnancy and fetal health research, Indian scientists have developed an indigenous “placenta-on-chip" platform that successfully mirrors several important functions of the human placenta.

According to the journal Biofabrication, the platform, developed by researchers from the ICMR-National Institute for Research on Women's Health (ICMR-NIRWoH) in collaboration with IIT Bombay, will equip scientists with a new tool to study pregnancy in depth, understand complications, and evaluate the safety of medicines during pregnancy.

Also read: WHO Unveils Global Action Plan To Combat Rising Fungal Infections And Drug Resistance

Significance Of Placenta

The placenta is a temporary organ that develops during pregnancy and acts as the lifeline between the mother and the unborn baby.

It provides unborn babies with oxygen and nutrients, eliminates waste products, produces hormones essential for pregnancy, and serves as a protective barrier for the baby.

Despite its vital role in the development of a healthy baby, the placenta remains one of the least understood human organs because its research during pregnancy is both ethically and technically challenging.

How Will Placenta-On-Chip Help Researchers?

The placenta-on-chip operates like a laboratory platform, recreating the interface between the mother and the fetus using living human cells. It reproduces several essential functions of the placenta, including:

• Production of pregnancy hormones

• Transfer of nutrients

• Removal of waste products including urea

• A selective barrier function that regulates what reaches the fetus

Researchers also demonstrated that the platform could simulate hyperglycaemic conditions similar to gestational diabetes, allowing scientists to study how pregnancy-related diseases affect placental function.

The placenta-on-chip platform could significantly improve research into pregnancy complications like:

• Gestational diabetes

• Preeclampsia

• Fetal growth restriction

• Placental disorders

Also read: Cancer Survivorship Beyond Treatment: Why Caregiver Support Must Become A Standard Of Oncology Care

Scientists also believe it could become an important tool for evaluating whether medicines can cross the placental barrier, helping researchers identify drugs that are safer during pregnancy.

Pregnant women are often excluded from clinical drug trials because of ethical concerns, leaving doctors with limited research. Placenta-on-chip may help bridge this gap.

Another major advantage is its potential to reduce dependency on animals for testing. Animal studies do not always accurately reflect how the human placenta functions because placenta structures differ significantly across species. Human cell-based platforms can therefore provide more clinically relevant insights and findings.

The researchers believe the placenta-on-chip could become an important platform for studying maternal-fetal health, testing new therapies, and understanding how various complications develop during pregnancy. The innovation is a step towards establishing clinically safe procedures to tackle pregnancy-related complications.

The technology has the potential to contribute not only to safer pregnancies but also to more reliable, human-based research that could benefit global healthcare. India could progress significantly in biomedical research, influencing and advancing reproductive healthcare systems worldwide.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has released a new global plan, urging countries to improve their response to the growing risk of fungal diseases and antifungal resistance. The health and disease regulatory body warned that the issue has been left unaddressed since a long time despite its serious impact on public health.

WHO Shares Plan To Tackle Fungal Infections & Drug Resistance

According to the WHO, fungal diseases affect more than 300 million people worldwide every year. It also said that they are responsible for serious complications, prolonged hospitalisation, and high mortality, particularly among those with weakened immune systems.

Despite the risks, fungal infections continue to receive far less attention than bacterial or viral diseases. They are also missing from national health strategy planning, particularly in antimicrobial resistance (AMR) plans.

Why Antifungal Resistance Is A Global Concern?

Antifungal resistance happens when fungi grow, resisting medicines used to treat the infections. This makes it harder and sometimes impossible to cure infections.

The WHO said resistance to antifungal drugs is being fueled by:

• Uncontrolled use of antifungal medicines not only in human healthcare but also in agriculture and animal health.

• Excessive environmental exposure to antifungal chemicals continues to accelerate resistance.

• Health experts have repeatedly warned that resistant fungal infections could become a major public health challenge, as the number of people living with conditions that weaken the immune system, including cancer, HIV, diabetes, and other chronic diseases, continues to rise.

• Climate change is also believed to be altering the distribution of certain disease-causing fungi, increasing the risk of outbreaks in new regions.

Also read: The High Cost of Ignoring Fungi: The Hidden Burden of Invasive Fungal Infections

Dr Jean Pierre Nyemazi, Acting Director of WHO's Department of Antimicrobial Resistance said, “The Updated Global Action Plan on AMR approved by the Seventy-ninth World Health Assembly recognized that antifungal resistance is an integral part of the AMR challenge and one we can no longer afford to overlook. This Blueprint gives countries a concrete path forward.”

What Does The WHO Blueprint Outline?

The blueprint to fight fungal infections has been developed with input from more than 150 experts across WHO regions, including specialists in infectious diseases, diagnostics, surveillance, public health and patient advocacy. It builds on the WHO's fungal priority pathogens list released in 2022, which identified the most dangerous fungal pathogens threatening human health.

The guidance outlines four priority areas for countries to strengthen their response. These include:

• Improving public awareness, infection prevention, and antifungal stewardship programmes.

• Expanding access to quality diagnostics and effective antifungal medicines while encouraging research and innovation.

• Strengthening laboratory networks, disease surveillance and outbreak preparedness

• Addressing environmental and agricultural factors contributing to antifungal resistance. Through a One Health approach that recognises the interconnected health of humans, animals and the environment.

The WHO has also identified 12 key areas to help governments prioritise investments and integrate fungal disease surveillance into existing healthcare systems.

WHO officials said fungal diseases continue to be neglected across national health policies despite their growing burden.

Hatim Sati, Technical Officer in WHO's Department of Antimicrobial Resistance, who led the blueprint's development, said, “Fungal disease and antifungal resistance remain an under-addressed priority across national health plans, AMR strategies, and surveillance systems. This Blueprint provides countries with a practical framework to strengthen their response.”

Cancer care has evolved significantly over the last few decades. Today, success is measured not only by survival rates but also by quality of life, emotional well-being, and the ability to return to a regular life after treatment. Yet, in our pursuit of patient-centered care, an essential component often remains invisible: caregivers.

Every cancer diagnosis affects more than just the patient. Behind every woman navigating treatment is often a spouse, parent, sibling, child, or friend who assumes the role of caregiver. They accompany patients to appointments, help manage treatment schedules, provide emotional reassurance, and often become the primary support system through one of life's most challenging experiences.

Why Caregivers Need Support

Despite their indispensable role, caregivers frequently receive little formal support themselves.

As oncologists, we witness this every day. We see caregivers putting their own health, careers, and emotional needs on hold to care for a loved one. While patients are understandably at the center of treatment, caregivers often carry an immense psychological and physical burden that goes unrecognized.

Through years of clinical practice, I have come to understand that caregivers are not merely bystanders in the cancer journey; they are active partners in healing. Yet, many families find themselves navigating unfamiliar territory with little guidance on what to expect, how to cope, or where to seek support.

The guide was conceived as a practical, step-by-step resource to help caregivers navigate different stages of the cancer journey from diagnosis and treatment to recovery and survivorship. More importantly, it acknowledges their resilience, fears, sacrifices, and emotional struggles, while equipping them with the information and support needed to care for both their loved ones and themselves.

Cancer Survivorship Is a Shared Journey

Cancer survivorship does not begin when treatment ends; it begins when patients and families start rebuilding their lives after cancer. Survivors may continue to face concerns around recurrence, fertility, body image, relationships, mental health, and long-term treatment effects. Caregivers, too, often carry lingering anxiety, exhaustion, and emotional trauma long after active treatment is over.

If we truly want to improve survivorship outcomes, caregiver support must become a standard component of oncology care rather than an afterthought.

This support can take many forms. It may include counselling services, support groups, educational resources, survivorship planning sessions, and opportunities for caregivers to openly discuss their own concerns. Equally important is creating healthcare environments where caregivers feel seen, heard, and included in care conversations.

Moving Towards Holistic Cancer Care

It is about time cancer care should move beyond a disease-centered approach towards a more holistic understanding of survivorship. While medical treatment remains central, there is growing recognition that recovery is also shaped by emotional well-being, family support systems, fertility concerns, body image, nutrition, rehabilitation, and quality of life after treatment.

This broader view of cancer care requires us to look beyond the patient alone. Caregivers are often the invisible backbone of the treatment journey, yet their needs frequently go unaddressed. As healthcare professionals, we must acknowledge that supporting caregivers is not separate from supporting patients. It is an integral part of comprehensive cancer care and long-term survivorship.

Caring Beyond Cure

As healthcare systems continue to advance, we must expand our understanding of what comprehensive cancer care looks like. A patient cannot thrive in isolation. When caregivers are empowered, informed, and emotionally supported, patient outcomes improve and survivorship becomes more sustainable for everyone involved.

Cancer survivorship is not an individual journey. It is a shared experience of resilience, hope, and recovery. By recognizing caregivers as integral members of the care team and providing them with the support they need, we move one step closer to a more humane and holistic model of oncology care, one that truly cares beyond cure.

(Dr. Jyoti Wadhwa, Principal Lead, Medical & Precision Oncology, Apollo Athenaa Women's Centre)