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.

Cancer Postcode Lottery will soon be put to an end by the UK Government. Reports say that it will enable the rural population access to cancer specialists and treatments. Before getting into how it will help the rural population and people living in coastal areas to find it easier to see a cancer doctor, let us first understand what postcode lottery means.

What Is Cancer Postcode Lottery?

The term cancer postcode lottery refers to a situation where a cancer patient’s access to the latest and most effective treatments depends on where they live or which hospital they are treated at, rather than purely on medical need.

Based on the information you shared, senior cancer doctors in England are warning that this is happening because of bureaucratic hurdles within the NHS. Even though cancer care is supposed to be equitable across the country, in practice, not all hospitals can easily offer the same treatments.

How Does This Postcode Lotter Work?

Doctors say that some cutting-edge cancer treatments such as advanced radiotherapy techniques and newer immunotherapy drugs require separate funding approvals. Individual cancer centers often have to apply to NHS England for permission and money to use these treatments.

Larger, better-funded hospitals with more administrative resources are often able to navigate this complex system more easily. Smaller or less well-resourced units may struggle, meaning patients treated there may not get access to the same options.

For instance, Stereotactic Ablative Body Radiotherapy (SABR). SABR is a highly precise form of radiotherapy that delivers strong radiation doses directly to small tumors in areas such as the lungs, liver, brain and lymph nodes. Although SABR is a well-established treatment and can be life-saving for certain patients, the Royal College of Radiologists (RCR) says some cancer units still have to apply for special funding to use it. This leads to situations where a patient in one area can receive SABR, while another patient with the same cancer elsewhere cannot.

What Is The Government Planning To Do With Postcode Lottery?

As per the official website of UK Government, this will allow people "living in rural and coastal communities will find it easier to see a cancer specialist as part of plans to tackle the current postcode lottery."

The website notes that most deprived parts of the country have fewer cancer consultants, which leaves patients waiting longer for essential care. These same areas also face highest economic inactivity, with long waits for diagnosis and treatment keeping people out of work and holding back local economies. This is why the government is now introducing "new training places targeted at trusts with biggest workforce gaps, prioritising rural and coastal areas".

Working with the Royal Colleges, the government will encourage more doctors to train in clinical and medical oncology to increase the number of cancer specialists in underserved areas.

These steps will be outlined in the upcoming National Cancer Plan, which aims to speed up diagnosis and treatment, reduce inequalities, and support the goal of making England a global leader in cancer survival, while building a future-ready NHS.

A treatment already popular in the US for skin care, pain relief, and faster healing may soon be known for something far more serious. A new study suggests red light therapy could help protect football players’ brains from chronic inflammation caused by repeated hits to the head.

Experts say the findings are early but promising, especially in the ongoing search for ways to reduce long term brain damage in contact sports.

What Is CTE?

Chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE, is a degenerative brain disease linked to repeated head injuries. It is commonly found in former football players, boxers, and military personnel exposed to blast injuries. Over time, the condition can cause memory loss, confusion, mood changes, aggression, and eventually problems with movement, speech, swallowing, and breathing. There is currently no cure, and doctors still do not know how to slow its progression.

Why inflammation matters in CTE

For now, the only proven way to lower CTE risk is to reduce repeated brain trauma through better helmets, rule changes, and fewer hits to the head. But with more than 100 former NFL players diagnosed with CTE after death and many more suspected cases, experts agree that prevention tools alone are not enough.

Researchers believe chronic inflammation in the brain plays a major role in how CTE develops and worsens over time. If that inflammation can be reduced early, it could potentially limit long term damage.

Red light therapy, also known as photobiomodulation, has already been shown to reduce inflammation in other parts of the body. It works by stimulating energy production inside cells and improving blood flow, which helps tissues repair and recover.

Inside the football study

To see whether the therapy could help the brain, researchers at the University of Utah Health studied 26 collegiate football players during a full season. Half received active red light therapy using a light emitting headset and a small device placed inside the nose. The other half used an identical looking device that did not emit light.

Players completed three 20 minute sessions each week over 16 weeks. Brain scans were taken before and after the season.

Read: 21-year-old Billy Vigar Of Chichester City Dies Of Sustaining Brain Injury

The results were striking. MRI scans showed that players in the placebo group experienced a significant increase in brain inflammation by the end of the season. In contrast, those using red light therapy showed little to no increase, with protection seen across most brain regions.

Why experts are paying attention

Specialists who reviewed the findings say the results align with what scientists already understand about inflammation and brain injury. Reducing the inflammatory response after repeated impacts could help limit the damage that builds up over time.

Another advantage is that the therapy is non invasive and does not involve medication. Most users report no major side effects, which makes it especially appealing for athletes.

That said, experts caution against buying over the counter red light devices. The therapy requires very specific wavelengths that can penetrate skin and tissue effectively. Many consumer products do not meet those standards.

Researchers stress that more studies are needed to confirm long term safety and effectiveness. A large Department of Defense funded trial is already planned, involving 300 people with persistent concussion or traumatic brain injury symptoms, including veterans and first responders.

If future research continues to show benefits without harm, red light therapy could one day become part of how teams protect athletes’ brains, not just in football, but across many sports.

Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi opened up about a cancer scare. Now, 38, the Jersey Shore star, posted on her TikTok an emotional video, where she explained that she has been dealing with abnormal pap smear results. She said that it has been about four year since the precancerous cells were found. Because of that she had to undergo an "uncomfortable" colposcopy and biopsy.

She said that when the results came back, the doctor informed her that her cervix is "Not looking great". The doctor had found cancerous cells on the top of her cervix. She said that she would soon need a cone biopsy under anesthesia for further testing. "I am terrified. It is scary, but we have to get it done because cervical cancer is nothing to joke about."

She said, "But whatever to keep me healthy and safe to be here for my kids that I have now," referring to her three children with her husband Jionni LaValle.

In her TikTok video, she said that she is scared and freaking out. She also said that she hopes to find community on social media with other women who have been through the same.

She also agreed to delaying her routine examination because of fear. "I waited on my appointments because I knew I might not get great results but also because I didn't want to feel the pain. I didn't want to deal with the stress of having to deal with all of this," she said.

Talking about her TikTok video, she said, “Just making this video to spread awareness to make sure you get your pap smears. And if your doctor calls you to do it again, do it, Make sure you are fine and prevent all the bad things that could happen, like cervical cancer." She said she was nervous but also shared that she received a lot of support from her friends and family. "Being a woman is not easy and is definitely a scary thing. I know I am going to be fine. It is just scary."

Read: Oncologist Reveals 5 Subtle Cervical Cancer Signs That You May Miss

What Is Cervical Cancer?

Cervical cancer develops in a women's cervix (uterus opening) due to abnormal cell growth, primarily caused by persistent HPV infection, a common infection that's passed through sexual contact.

When exposed to HPV, the body's immune system typically prevents the virus from causing damage however, in a small percentage of people, the virus can survive for years and pave the way for some cervical cells to become cancerous.

Treatment involves surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy, with early detection significantly improving outcomes, though it remains a major cancer in low-income countries. Cervical cancer can also be prevented through vaccination and regular screening (Pap/HPV tests).

Dr Ninad Katdare told News18: "In its early stages, it is often more of a whisper than a shout. As a cancer surgeon who has treated hundreds of women with gynaecological cancers, I can say with confidence that recognizing these subtle cues can lead to earlier diagnosis and significantly better outcomes."