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.

More than five months after the UK’s worst meningitis B outbreak in Kent, scientists say they have identified genetic changes that may explain why the infection caused unusually severe disease.

According to UKHSA data, more than 20 young people, mostly students, were infected in the March outbreak linked to a Canterbury nightclub. All required hospital treatment; nine were admitted to intensive care and two died.

“This investigation shows just how quickly and dramatically these bacteria can change, sometimes acquiring new traits from harmless bacteria circulating nearby, that make them more likely to cause disease,” said Dr Charlene Rodrigues, Consultant in Pathogen Genomics at UKHSA.

What Happened in Kent?

Two people died in the outbreak — a 21-year-old University of Kent student and Juliette Kenny, a sixth-form pupil at Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School in Faversham.

The outbreak is thought to have started at Club Chemistry, a nightclub in Canterbury city centre popular with university students. Scientists believe one person may have brought the infection into the venue, where it then spread through close social contact.

At the time, scientists described the outbreak as “unprecedented” and “explosive” because of its unusual speed and severity.

“The fact this outbreak variant was able to spread to so many young people was due to the social environment, a place where lots of close social mixing takes place,” Dr Rodrigues said.

What Did Scientists Find?

Scientists from UKHSA, the University of Oxford and academic institutions used bacterial genome sequencing to investigate the outbreak.

UKHSA’s Meningococcal Reference Unit sequenced the bacteria within days of the first case and compared the outbreak strains with tens of thousands of meningococcal genomes in international databases.

They found that the outbreak strain had acquired DNA from less harmful bacteria naturally found in the human throat.

“This process is called ‘horizontal gene transfer’ and allows bacteria to pick up and incorporate small pieces of DNA from other bacteria in their environment, effectively borrowing genetic traits without direct reproduction taking place,” the scientists explained.

The changes appear to have altered how the strain interacts with human cells, making it more effective at causing severe disease and potentially harder for the immune system to recognize.

The same changes may also help explain why the strain has not continued to spread widely since the outbreak was controlled.

The findings were published as a pre-print and presented this week at the UKHSA Conference 2026 in Manchester.

Could Such an Outbreak Happen Again?

The researchers compared the Kent outbreak with historical outbreaks, including one at the University of Southampton in 1997, and found similarities in how the bacteria evolved.

The team said highly invasive strains can emerge suddenly and unpredictably, meaning similar outbreaks could occur again, although exactly when and where is impossible to predict.

The findings highlight the importance of genomic surveillance, rapid public health responses, vaccination and awareness of meningococcal disease symptoms.

What Is Meningitis?

Meningitis is inflammation of the meninges, the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord. It can be caused by bacterial, viral, fungal or parasitic infections, as well as non-infectious conditions.

Bacterial meningitis can be severe and may lead to complications including hearing loss, vision problems and death if not treated promptly.

Common symptoms include:

• Severe headache
• Stiff neck
• Photophobia or sensitivity to light
• Nausea and vomiting
• Confusion or difficulty concentrating
• Fatigue or difficulty waking
• Seizures
• Skin rash, particularly in meningococcal disease

In infants, symptoms may include excessive crying, irritability, feeding difficulties, a bulging soft spot on the head and unusual lethargy.

Two doses of the MenB vaccine offer protection against meningococcal group B disease.

GLP-1 medications have shown significant promise in treating obesity and type 2 diabetes in adults. Their use has also expanded among children with obesity. However, a new study found that nearly 1 in 6 children, or 17%, treated with GLP-1 medications developed a diagnosed nutritional deficiency within one year.

The research, conducted by scientists at Northwestern University and Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, found that vitamin D deficiency was the most common nutritional deficiency, identified in 12.4% of children within one year of starting GLP-1 treatment.

“As appropriate pediatric use of GLP-1s becomes more widespread, we need to understand the risks during periods of rapid growth and pubertal development,” said senior author Justin Ryder, associate professor of surgery and pediatrics at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.

“Nutrients such as vitamin D, iron and calcium are of particular concern during adolescence, when deficiencies may have lasting implications for skeletal health and overall development,” the expert added. The study was published in the journal Childhood Obesity.

Only a Small Share Received Nutritional Counselling

According to Ryder, nutritional support is key once treatment with a GLP-1 medication is initiated.

However, the study found that only 5% of patients received nutritional counseling within 30 days of starting GLP-1 treatment, while less than 25% received nutritional counseling within six months.

Key Findings

The scientists used national administrative claims data from 2017 to 2022 covering more than 100 million patients. They identified 2,031 GLP-1 users aged 10–17 who met continuous enrollment criteria and had no prior diagnosis of nutritional deficiency.

Among these children, the most commonly prescribed GLP-1 medications were liraglutide (78.6%), dulaglutide (10.4%) and semaglutide (9.1%).

The researchers said proactive nutritional management is important when GLP-1 medications are prescribed to children, rather than waiting until a nutritional deficiency is diagnosed.

GLP-1 Prescriptions Rising For Children Under 12

The new study comes as the use of GLP-1 medications among younger children has been rising in the US, although their use for obesity in this age group remains limited and varies by medication. The FDA has approved GLP-1 treatment for obesity in adolescents, among those age 12.

A recent study from NYU Langone Health, based on health records from more than 3.5 million children aged 8 to 11 with obesity in the US, found that prescriptions for GLP-1 medications increased more than 300-fold between 2019 and June 2026.

In 2019, about 0.03% of children in the study group had been prescribed a GLP-1 drug. By June 2026, that figure had risen to 9.3%.

The medications included drugs such as Wegovy and Saxenda, made by Novo Nordisk, and Eli Lilly's Zepbound.

Among children receiving GLP-1 medications, 94% had severe obesity, while about 65% had obesity-related health conditions, including high blood pressure or sleep apnea.

GLP-1 Drugs and FDA Approval for Younger Children

The FDA has approved certain GLP-1 medications for obesity in some pediatric age groups, but the approvals and age limits vary by drug. The GLP-1 medications included in the under-12 study are not generally FDA-approved for weight management in children younger than 12.

However, doctors can prescribe medicines off-label when they believe there is a medical reason to do so. Clinical guidelines may also support the use of obesity medications in certain circumstances involving younger children.

India’s Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) has issued an advisory cautioning against the indiscriminate use of painkillers and antibiotics.

It warned that inappropriate or prolonged use of these medicines can lead to kidney complications and contribute to antimicrobial resistance.

This comes as a Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health and Family Welfare recently noted that the pooled prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in India is approximately 13.24%.

The committee suggested that people above 20 undergo kidney function testing every six months.

How Can Painkillers Affect Kidneys?

“NSAIDs/painkillers and antibiotics should not be taken indiscriminately, repeatedly or for prolonged periods without medical advice,” the CDSCO said.

• NSAIDs can increase the risk of renal impairment, particularly in people with existing kidney disease or other risk factors.
• The risk is greater with repeated or prolonged use.
• People with renal impairment, dehydration or cardiovascular disease require particular caution when using NSAIDs.

It also suggested them to seek medical advice if pain, fever or other symptoms persist or recur, instead of repeatedly using painkillers or antibiotics on your own.

Further, the CDSCO noted that antibiotics should not be used for self-medication or for conditions where they are not clinically indicated, such as most uncomplicated viral infections.

Prescribed antibiotics should be taken strictly as advised and should not be shared or used from leftover medicines.

“Antibiotics prescribed by a healthcare professional should be taken strictly as advised and should not be shared with other persons or used from leftover medicines.”

What CDSCO Told Doctors

Also read: Young Americans Are Developing Kidney Failure Without Usual Risk Factors: What Is CKDu?

Healthcare practitioners have been advised to prescribe NSAIDs and antibiotics only when clinically indicated, after considering the patient’s:

• Clinical condition
• Age
• Co-morbidities
• Concomitant medicines
• Relevant risk factors

“The lowest effective dose for the shortest appropriate duration should be considered when prescribing NSAIDs, particularly in patients at increased risk of renal impairment.”

Doctors have also been advised to take appropriate precautions when prescribing NSAIDs to people with:

• Renal impairment
• Dehydration
• Cardiovascular disease
• Other conditions that may increase the risk associated with NSAID use

Antibiotics should be prescribed judiciously in line with antimicrobial stewardship principles. Unnecessary combination therapy, inappropriate antibiotic selection, incorrect dosing and unnecessarily prolonged treatment should be avoided.

Hospitals Asked To Strengthen Monitoring

The CDSCO has asked hospitals and healthcare institutions to:

• Strengthen systems for rational prescribing and monitoring of NSAIDs and antibiotics
• Promote antimicrobial stewardship
• Conduct prescription reviews
• Provide appropriate patient counselling.

What CDSCO Told Pharmacies

The regulator has directed pharmacies and retailers to strictly comply with rules governing the sale and distribution of prescription medicines.

• Schedule H, H1 and other prescription drugs must be sold in accordance with applicable provisions of the Drugs Rules, 1945.
• Pharmacists and retailers should not encourage or facilitate self-medication with antibiotics or prescription-only NSAIDs.
• Prescribed warnings and conditions of sale on medicine labels must be followed.
• Schedule H1 drugs should not be sold at retail except in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Drugs Rules, 1945.

NSAIDs, Antibiotics Require Medical Supervision

The CDSCO said that various drugs, including NSAIDs and antibiotics, are placed under Schedules G, H, H1 and X of the Drugs Rules, 1945.

Most NSAIDs are included in Schedule H and are not to be sold at retail without a prescription from a Registered Medical Practitioner. Similarly, most antibiotics are included in Schedule H1.

They are required to carry the following warnings:

• It is dangerous to take this preparation except in accordance with the medical advice.
• Not to be sold by retail without the prescription of a Registered Medical Practitioner.