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 World Health Organization (WHO) today announced its recommendations for the viral composition of influenza (or “flu”) vaccines for the 2027 southern hemisphere influenza season.

The announcement comes as US states can now order free COVID-19 vaccines for eligible children through the federal Vaccines for Children (VFC) program, following a nearly month-long delay.

Why WHO Is Updating Flu Vaccine Strains

Seasonal influenza causes substantial illness and hospitalizations each year. Because influenza viruses continually evolve, vaccine compositions need to be regularly updated.

WHO recommendations guide national vaccine regulators and manufacturers in developing and licensing vaccines for the following flu season.

"For nearly 75 years, the WHO Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System has demonstrated the power of global solidarity in public health," said Dr Maria Van Kerkhove, WHO's Director for Epidemic and Pandemic Management.

"The commitment of countries and laboratories to share data, viruses and expertise enables WHO to make timely vaccine recommendations, strengthening our collective ability to detect and respond to emerging influenza threats. This is global public health collaboration at its best," she added.

What Are The 2027 Flu Vaccine Strains?

From February through August 2026, influenza A(H1N1)pdm09, A(H3N2) and influenza B viruses circulated across regions. Influenza A viruses predominated in most regions, while influenza B dominated in Northern and Western Africa, North America and Eastern Asia.

WHO recommends the following strains for the 2027 southern hemisphere influenza season:

Egg-based vaccines

• A/Missouri/11/2025 (H1N1)pdm09-like virus
• A/Darwin/1454/2025 (H3N2)-like virus
• B/Tokyo/EIS13-175/2025 (B/Victoria lineage)-like virus

Cell culture-, recombinant protein- or nucleic acid-based vaccines

• A/Missouri/11/2025 (H1N1)pdm09-like virus
• A/Darwin/1415/2025 (H3N2)-like virus
• B/Pennsylvania/14/2025 (B/Victoria lineage)-like virus

WHO also reviewed influenza viruses circulating in animals because of their potential to cause human infections and pandemics.

Free COVID Vaccines For US Children

The VFC program provides free immunizations to more than half of U.S. children, including those covered by Medicaid, uninsured or underinsured children, and Native Americans and Alaska Natives.

The FDA approved the updated COVID-19 vaccines on August 27, but access through the VFC program was delayed.

Although overall COVID-19 hospitalization rates remain low, they have been rising since mid-June. According to the CDC, hospitalization rates are highest among babies younger than 1 year old and adults aged 65 and older.

States Can Now Order COVID Vaccines

Public health officials from multiple states confirmed that they can now order the free vaccines.

South Carolina’s health department “was alerted yesterday afternoon by the CDC that COVID vaccines would be available for order today,” Casey White, a department spokeswoman, told CIDRAP News.

“Announcements will be shared with VFC providers and health departments to communicate the opening of ordering for all respiratory immunizations.”

WHO said it will issue its recommendation for vaccines for the 2027–28 northern hemisphere influenza season in February 2027.

Nearly 20 prescriptions for life-ending medication were reportedly issued in New York during the first month of its Medical Aid in Dying (MAiD) law, according to a Columbia University bioethics expert.

However, state health officials have not yet released data showing how many patients actually used the medication.

New York’s Medical Aid in Dying Act took effect on August 5, making it the 14th US state to legalize medical aid in dying.

David Hoffman, assistant professor of professional practice in bioethics at Columbia University, told The New York Post that conversations with doctors, hospitals and organizations indicated that about 20 prescriptions had been issued since the law took effect.

“The state will have the data on a rolling basis. It’s an after-the-fact analysis,” Hoffman told The Post.

The New York State Department of Health has yet to release precise figures on the program’s use.

New York Assisted Suicide Law: Why Is It Controversial?

Read More: Supreme Court Allows 1st Passive Euthanasia For Man In Vegetative State For 13 Years

The lack of publicly available data has drawn criticism from lawmakers who opposed the law. Upstate Republican Assemblyman Andrew Molitor told The New York Sun that New Yorkers should know how many people have requested and used medical aid in dying.

He said information should include patients’ socioeconomic status, insurance coverage, terminal condition, when prescriptions were filled and where the medication was administered.

Western New York Republican state Sen. George Borrello also criticized the wait for the state’s first annual report.

Critics have additionally raised concerns about whether the law could eventually be expanded. Borrello pointed to Canada, where medical assistance in dying was legalized in 2016.

Medical aid in dying remains controversial because it raises ethical, religious and moral questions. Critics warn about the potential coercion of vulnerable patients, while supporters emphasize personal autonomy and relief from prolonged, incurable suffering.

Medical aid in dying generally involves a patient voluntarily taking lethal medication prescribed by a doctor. Euthanasia, by contrast, involves a healthcare professional administering the lethal medication at the patient’s request.

Who Can Qualify For Medical Aid In Dying In New York?

Under New York’s law, patients must:

• Be at least 18 years old.

• Be a New York resident.

• Have a terminal illness with six months or less to live.

• Have the capacity to make an informed healthcare decision.

• Be physically capable of self-administering the medication.

• Receive approval from two physicians.

• Undergo a psychiatric evaluation when required to assess decision-making capacity.

• Make an oral request and provide an audio or video recording of that request.

The law also requires a five-day waiting period between obtaining and dispensing the prescription.

Medical aid in dying requires the patient to take the prescribed medication themselves. This differs from euthanasia, in which a healthcare professional administers the life-ending medication.

How Will New York Track The Program?

Also read: Can Right To Die Be Practiced By Non-Terminally Ill Patients?

The law requires the state health commissioner to submit an annual report to the Legislature detailing the program’s use.

Hoffman noted that doctors report when medication is prescribed, but the state may not immediately know whether a patient ultimately takes it.

A New York State Department of Health spokesperson told The Post that the department will publish an annual report with utilization data as required by law.

Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said end-of-life decisions are “deeply personal” and should be made individually in consultation with patients, doctors, families and loved ones. The department has also issued guidance and proposed regulations intended to prevent misuse or inappropriate application of the law.

Assisted-Dying Laws In Other Countries

The debate over medical aid in dying extends beyond New York and the US.

France’s National Assembly recently gave final approval to a bill that would allow certain adults with incurable illnesses to receive lethal medication, following years of debate over end-of-life care.

Assisted-dying legislation is also being debated in the UK, where a bill covering England and Wales is returning to Parliament.

Vitruvias Therapeutics’ thyroid medication, recalled nationwide in August, has been elevated to the highest risk level by the US FDA.

The recall was issued because the medication may be superpotent, potentially causing hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid).

On Wednesday, the FDA updated the recall to Class I, its most serious recall classification. It applies when there is a “reasonable probability that the use of or exposure to a violative product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death.”

Which Thyroid Tablets Have Been Recalled?

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The affected product is:

• Vitruvias Thyroid Tablets USP 30 mg
• Lot number: 504950
• Expiration date: September 30, 2026

In its August 24 recall notice, the company said the tablets were potentially superpotent.

Risks of Superpotent Thyroid Medicines

Millions of people with hypothyroidism rely on thyroid tablets every day to replace hormones their bodies cannot produce.

However, taking superpotent thyroid tablets can cause hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid). It can force the body's metabolism into overdrive, speeding up organs and bodily functions.

Left untreated, this constant strain can cause serious health complications across multiple systems in the body.

In addition, people taking the medication can be at risk of

• weight loss,
• heat intolerance,
• fatigue,
• nervousness,
• muscle weakness,
• hypertension,
• chest pain,
• rapid heart rate,
• heart rhythm disturbances.

The lot was distributed nationwide in the US to Vitruvias Therapeutics’ direct accounts between January 31 and September 30, 2025. Of 3,655 units released, 1,955 were sold.

Read More: FDA Recalls Popular Thyroid Medication: What Levothyroxine Users Need to Know

Who Is At Greater Risk?

The company identified the following groups as being at greater risk from superpotent thyroid tablets:

• Elderly people
• Pregnant women
• Infants

Excess thyroid hormones in older adults have been associated with adverse outcomes, particularly those affecting the heart.

Vitruvias Therapeutics said it has not received any reports of adverse events known to be linked to the recall.

The company is notifying wholesalers to stop distributing the recalled product and arranging for its destruction.

What Should Patients Do?

Patients taking Thyroid, USP from Lot 504950 should not stop taking it without first contacting their healthcare provider for guidance and/or a replacement prescription.

Hypothyroidism vs Hyperthyroidism

Speaking to HealthandMe, Dr Shruti Kotangale, Consultant Gynaecologist, Obstetrician and Infertility Expert at AIMS Hospital, Dombivli, explained that both conditions are commonly seen in women.

Hypothyroidism occurs when the thyroid is underactive. Symptoms can include tiredness, weight gain, dry skin, hair fall, constipation, feeling cold, a slow heartbeat and low mood or depression.

Hyperthyroidism occurs when the thyroid is overactive. Symptoms may include weight loss, a fast heartbeat, sweating, anxiety, tremors, irritability, frequent bowel movements and difficulty sleeping.

Women should seek medical attention and manage these symptoms without delay.

Common Symptoms Of Thyroid Disorders

Thyroid disorders may cause a range of symptoms, including:

• Fatigue
• Cognitive changes
• Gastrointestinal problems
• Sensitivity to cold
• Skin and hair changes
• Weight changes

How Is Thyroid Disease Diagnosed?

Diagnosis may involve:

• Physical examination: To check for swelling or nodules in the neck.
• Blood tests: These may measure TSH, T4 and T3 levels, along with thyroid antibodies when conditions such as Hashimoto’s disease or Graves’ disease are suspected.
• Ultrasound or thyroid scans may also be used to assess the thyroid’s structure.