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.

The popularity of GLP-1 weight-loss medications in the United States has reached its highest level yet. A new survey shows that nearly one in 10 American adults now takes the drugs to lose weight. At the same time, the country's obesity rate shows a steady decline. Experts say the survey does not prove that one trend is directly causing the other.

GLP-1 Weight-Loss Drug Use At An All-Time High In The US

GLP-1 drugs, including medications such as semaglutide and tirzepatide, were originally developed to treat type 2 diabetes but have become increasingly popular for managing obesity after studies showed they could help people lose significant amounts of weight.

According to Gallup's latest National Health and Well-Being Index, 11% of U.S. adults currently use a GLP-1 medication for weight loss. In 2024, this number was just 3%.

The survey also said that 15% of adults have tried a GLP-1 medication at some point, compared to the 6% from two years ago.

The survey also found that 91% of Americans have heard of GLP-1 weight-loss drugs, up from 80% in 2024. The growing visibility of the medication reflects widespread media coverage, celebrity endorsements, and broader acceptance by patients and healthcare providers.

Also read: Serena Williams Lost 34 Pounds With The Help Of A GLP-1 Drug But It’s Not Ozempic

Obesity Rate Has Been Steadily Declining

The Gallup report also found that the adult obesity rate in the US has fallen to 36.4% in 2026, down from a record 39.9% in 2022. The decline follows a similar trend seen last year, when obesity rates also dropped after years of steady increases.

Researchers noted that the decrease in obesity has occurred alongside the rapid rise in GLP-1 use. However, they said that the findings show an association rather than proof that the medications are responsible for the decline in obesity. Other factors, including lifestyle changes, healthcare access, fitness consciousness, and others may also be contributing.

Despite the decline in obesity, the percentage of Americans who have diabetes has remained relatively stable at around 13.5% since 2023, according to Gallup.

Researchers said this is not unexpected because diabetes is a lifelong condition. Even if people lose weight or improve their blood sugar control, they typically continue to be diabetic once diagnosed.

US Medicare To Cover GLP-1 Drugs For Weight Loss

This is another move that will add to the popularity of GLP-1 drugs in the US. From July 1, people in the US will be able to access GLP-1 drugs for weight loss through a new pilot program, offered by the federal health insurance program Medicare. Slated to be operational for 18 months, the program will last till the end of 2027.

Until now, Medicare covered GLP-1 medications like Ozempic only for certain conditions like diabetes, but not for weight loss. The initiative aims to make these high-cost weight-loss medications more accessible to eligible candidates.

Eligible beneficiaries will be able to access the following GLP-1 weight-loss medications:

• Novo Nordisk's Wegovy injections and tablets
• Eli Lilly's Foundayo tablets
• Eli Lilly's Zepbound KwikPen

The medications will be covered only when prescribed for weight management and when beneficiaries meet the program's medical eligibility criteria.

After nearly two months, Uganda has announced that it has successfully contained its latest Ebola outbreak. Authorities say that prompt and aggressive surveillance, rapid treatment, contact tracing, and active cross-border coordination helped stop the spread. The government has now sought the removal of international travel restrictions that were put in place imposed during the outbreak.

Ebola Outbreak In Uganda Contained

The Ugandan Ministry of Health recently said all confirmed Ebola patients have either recovered or completed treatment, while every identified contact has been traced and monitored.

Diana Atwine, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Health, said on Sunday in a post on X that the outbreak had been contained. The Xinhua news agency reported that they treated of all imported confirmed cases and cared for those infected. They have also traced and quarantined the contacts.

Atwine also said a large team of medical personnel, two mobile laboratories and logistical support from Uganda were on their way to Congo to support the country's Ebola response.

The Ministry has also implemented preventive measures to curb the spread of the disease from eastern Congo, the epicentre of the ongoing outbreak, Atwine said. It included strengthening screening and preventive measures along the border with the DRC where a much larger Ebola outbreak continues to remain a global concern.

According to the latest figures, the country recorded 20 confirmed Ebola cases, including two deaths. 16 people have recovered from the disease.

The last confirmed infection was reported on June 21. The Health Ministry said that no new cases have been detected and reported since then. Most infections in Uganda were linked to travel from the DRC, while a only a few resulted from local transmission.

Officials argue that the outbreak has been effectively controlled through rapid isolation of patients, extensive contact tracing, quarantine of exposed individuals and supportive medical care.

She added that Uganda had begun urging countries that imposed Ebola-related travel restrictions to lift the measures.

Also read: Uganda On Alert Over Suspected Marburg Virus Outbreak

Ebola Outbreak In The DRC Continues To Remain A Concern

In Congo, the situation is still grim. The capital of Ituri province remains at the heart of the Ebola outbreak. According to latest data, the country has recorded at least 1,561 confirmed cases, including 506 deaths and 254 people recovered. More than 10,000 contacts are being monitored.

Dr. Anne Ancia, WHO’s representative to the DRC said, “True scale has not yet been fully established. We would like to say it is stabilising, but frankly, we cannot say it yet.”

Amid the challenges, a few encouraging developments include the progress made on testing after daily capacity was increased from 30 tests in Kinshasa to more than 2,000 as 10 decentralised laboratories were established in the affected provinces on priority.

Another piece of good news is the start of a clinical trial on July 2, which can help identify and narrow down treatment options for Ebola, as currently there is no approved, proven path of treatment and cure for the Bundibugyo strain.

The trial will examine two promising therapies - a monoclonal antibody, MBP134, and the antiviral remdesivir.

About Bundibugyo Ebola Virus

The Bundibugyo virus was first identified in Uganda in 2007 and has caused only a few outbreaks since then. As infections have been relatively uncommon compared to the Zaire strain, researchers have had limited opportunities to develop vaccines, treatments and diagnostic tests.

Due to this, healthcare workers have been compelled to rely primarily on rapid isolation of patients, intensive supportive care, contact tracing, and strict infection prevention measures to slow transmission.

Currently, Eastern DRC is the hotspot for the Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak, where conflict, population displacement, skepticism, and insecurity have made it difficult for health workers to reach affected locations.

A team of US scientists has developed a new HIV vaccine that trains the immune system to overcome the virus's defenses, producing the strongest HIV-fighting antibody response ever reported in non-human primates.

The vaccine, developed by researchers from La Jolla Institute for Immunology (LJI), Scripps Research, and IAVI, is the first to generate a high number of broadly neutralizing antibodies against HIV in primates. Human trials have now begun.

“This feels like a huge success,” said LJI Professor and Chief Scientific Officer Shane Crotty.

“We constructed a successful vaccine from the ground up, which required a deep understanding of the immune system.” The findings are published in the journal Nature.

How Does The New Vaccine Work?

The vaccine is designed to guide the body's B cells—the immune cells responsible for making antibodies. Normally, B cells begin in a naïve state and gradually mature after encountering a virus. As they mature, they continuously refine the antibodies they produce, improving their ability to recognize and neutralize the virus.

Instead of waiting for this process to happen naturally, the new vaccine directs B cells through each stage of development.

Also read: US Hospital Performs World's First HIV-to-HIV Lung Transplant, Offering Fresh Hope for HIV Patients

The approach includes:

• A priming vaccine that activates naïve B cells.
• A series of booster shots that guide these cells toward producing broadly neutralizing antibodies capable of recognizing many HIV strains.

“This series of vaccinations will guide, or ‘walk’, a B cell from its naive state to its broadly neutralizing state,” said LJI Instructor Patrick Madden.

The scientists called this strategy germline targeting because it targets B cells before they begin their normal maturation process.

Strong Results in Animal Studies

To evaluate the vaccine, researchers tested it in rhesus macaques. The results showed:

• Around 44% of vaccinated animals produced broadly neutralizing antibodies against HIV.
• The antibody levels were unusually high compared with previous vaccine studies.
• The antibodies closely resembled those found in the small number of people who naturally develop broad protection against HIV.

“We succeeded in taking ultra-rare antibody responses and turning them into common responses by the end of the vaccination process,” Crotty said.

The researchers did not test whether the antibodies could completely prevent HIV infection. However, finding these antibodies circulating in the bloodstream suggests they could potentially recognize and block the virus.

Human Trials Underway

Read More: HIV No Longer Barrier To Organ Transplants, Say Delhi Doctors After Successful Kidney Surgery

The researchers are now working to improve the vaccine further, including refining the booster schedule to increase the number of individuals who develop broadly neutralizing antibodies.

“It was incredible to get those results, but of course we'd like to see a response in 100 percent of the animals,” Madden said.

According to the researchers, the antibodies produced in the vaccinated animals closely matched the broadly neutralizing antibodies seen in the rare people who naturally develop them.

“We believe this vaccine approach is even more likely to succeed in humans, because of the immunogenetics,” Crotty said.

Global Burden Of HIV

According to the World Health Organization, globally, 40.8 million [37.0–45.6 million] people were living with HIV at the end of 2024. Out of these, 1.3 million individuals newly acquired the virus, and 630,000 people died from AIDS-related illnesses.

To date, there is no vaccine available that will prevent HIV infection. Developing an HIV vaccine has remained one of the biggest challenges in medicine because the virus is exceptionally good at evading the immune system.

“The worldwide diversity of HIV mutations is extraordinary. Even the diversity within one individual person living with HIV is dramatic,” Madden said.