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 US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved SimpleScreen CRC, a new blood-based screening test for colorectal cancer (CRC), the second-leading cause of cancer-related death in America.

Developed by Freenome, the test is intended for adults aged 45 and older who are at average risk for CRC. It detects cancer-associated signals from cell-free DNA (cfDNA) in the blood. However, the company said it is not a replacement for diagnostic or surveillance colonoscopy in high-risk individuals.

"A blood-based test provides another way to reach unscreened patients, and bringing more people into the screening fold leads to earlier detection and better outcomes," said Aasma Shaukat, Professor of Medicine at NYU Grossman School of Medicine.

How Does the SimpleScreen CRC Test Work?

The test is indicated for adults aged 45 years and older who are at average risk for CRC and have been referred by a healthcare provider for screening. A positive result suggests the possible presence of colorectal cancer or advanced precancerous lesions and should be followed by a colonoscopy.

A study, which enrolled over 48,000 adults across more than 200 sites, demonstrated that the test has:

• 81.1% sensitivity for detecting colorectal cancer.
• 13.7% sensitivity for detecting advanced precancerous lesions (APLs), including 30.7% for APLs with high-grade dysplasia.
• 90.4% specificity for advanced colorectal neoplasia.

Abbott will exclusively commercialize SimpleScreen CRC in the US.

Also read: India's National Hepatitis Program Screens Over 210.6 Million, Treats 612,000 Patients

Why Is Colorectal Cancer Screening Important?

Colorectal cancer is highly preventable and treatable when detected early through screening. Up to 60 million Americans remain overdue for recommended screening, highlighting the need for more convenient screening options.

Although up to 90% of colorectal cancer deaths are preventable, the disease is still expected to claim more than 55,000 lives in the US this year. Regular screening remains key to early detection and improved outcomes.

What Is Colorectal Cancer?

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Also called colon cancer, colorectal cancer is among the most common cancers globally, yet it often goes unnoticed because its symptoms can be subtle.

"It's a cancer that can creep in quietly, and by the time it's diagnosed, it may already be at an advanced stage," said Dr. Sajjan Rajpurohit, Medical Oncologist at BLK-Max Super Speciality Hospital. "Early detection is the most powerful tool in improving survival rates."

Early Symptoms People Ignore

Colon cancer often develops with subtle symptoms that are easy to overlook.

Common early signs include:

• Persistent changes in bowel movements, such as chronic constipation or diarrhea.
• Blood in the stool, whether bright red or dark.
• Unexplained weight loss.
• Abdominal cramps or bloating that may be mistaken for common digestive issues.

The number of confirmed Ebola cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has reached 3,200, including a death toll of 1,405, according to the latest official data.

Caused by the rare Bundibugyo strain, the outbreak is the third-largest on record.

Amid the worsening outbreak, researchers have reached an important scientific milestone in vaccination. The first human volunteer has received an experimental vaccine targeting the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, marking the world's first Phase I clinical trial, the University of Oxford said.

The vaccine, known as ChAdOx1 BDBV, uses the same viral vector platform that was employed for the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine.

Professor Katrina Pollock, chief investigator at the Oxford Vaccine Group, described the launch as "an important milestone" in the effort to develop protection against a virus for which no licensed vaccine currently exists.

"We welcome the start of the phase 1 clinical trial of an investigational vaccine against Ebola Bundibugyo virus disease — an important step to assess the safety and immune responses generated by the vaccine," said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) said in a post on social media platform X.

What Is The Chadox1 BDBV Vaccine? How Does It Work?

Also read: Ebola Bundibugyo Strain: All You Should Know About The Rare Virus

ChAdOx1 BDBV, developed in collaboration with Serum Institute of India (SII), is designed specifically to protect against the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola.

It is reportedly the first of four Bundibugyo Ebola vaccine candidates currently under development to enter human clinical trials.

The vaccine uses a genetically modified chimpanzee adenovirus (ChAdOx1)—a harmless virus that normally causes the common cold in chimpanzees—as a delivery vehicle.

Scientists have inserted genetic material from the Ebola Bundibugyo virus into this harmless virus. Once injected in humans, the modified virus trains the immune system to recognize the Ebola virus and produce protective antibodies and fight the infection.

The vaccine has already shown promising results in mice and macaque monkeys and is being manufactured to clinical standards by the SII, which has already produced and stockpiled around 620,000 doses. Based on preclinical data, the UK's MHRA approved the vaccine to proceed to human trials.

Read More: Ebola Outbreak: The Unique Symptoms Seen In Patients Infected With Bundibugyo

ChAdOx1 BDBV Vaccine: Phase 1 human trial

The Oxford researchers will recruit 50 healthy adults aged 18 to 55 years in the UK for the Phase 1 trial.

Scientists are also working with partners in Uganda to prepare future clinical trials in Africa. Participants will be monitored for one year, although researchers expect to know much sooner whether the vaccine generates the desired immune response and whether any unexpected side effects occur.

Can A Single-dose Vaccine Work?

Researchers are also exploring preventive vaccination strategies for healthcare workers and people who have been in close contact with infected patients.

One such approach is ring vaccination, in which individuals surrounding a confirmed Ebola case are vaccinated or given preventive treatment to stop further spread.

The goal is to develop a single-dose vaccine, similar to the licensed vaccine against the Ebola Zaire strain. Scientists believe that both antibodies and T cells—immune cells that recognize and destroy infected cells—will play an important role in protection, although long-term immunity against the Bundibugyo strain is not yet fully understood.

"Pre-clinical models for these pathogens have already shown that a single-dose vaccine can protect animals. So, we are optimistic that a one-shot vaccine is achievable," Prof Teresa Lambe, Head of Vaccine Immunology, Oxford Vaccine Group, Pandemic Sciences Institute, University of Oxford, told The Indian Express.

The American Red Cross has declared a national blood supply crisis for only the second time in its history, warning that blood donations have dropped to a four-year summer low while demand from hospitals continues to rise.

The organization says the shortage has reached a point where patient care could be affected if donations do not increase immediately.

According to the Red Cross, the crisis is being driven by a combination of fewer blood donations during the summer months and higher demand for blood products, particularly during the peak trauma season.

Type O Blood Supply At Critical Levels

One of the biggest concerns is the shortage of type O positive blood, the most commonly transfused blood type in the United States.

The American Red Cross said it currently has less than a one-day national supply of O-positive blood. They have limited distributions to individual hospitals to ensure the blood type is available for the most life-threatening emergencies.

Supplies of O-negative blood, the universal blood type used in trauma situations when there is no time to determine a patient's blood group, are also not sufficient.

The Red Cross noted that many blood collection organizations across the country are reporting similar challenges this year.

Also read: US Billionaire Undergoes Total Plasma Exchange: Know What It Is

Why Summer Is Especially Challenging

Summer has always been one of the most difficult seasons for maintaining a stable blood supply. Schools and colleges, which frequently host blood drives, are closed, while vacations and holiday travel often disrupt regular donation schedules.

At the same time, hospitals continue to require blood due to surgeries, cancer treatments, childbirth complications, chronic illnesses, and trauma patients.

The Red Cross said these seasonal challenges have intensified this year, resulting in the lowest level of summer donations seen in four years.

In its announcement, the American Red Cross said, "The American Red Cross has declared only the second national blood supply crisis in its history after blood donations fell to a four-year summer low, deepening an emergency shortage that threatens the availability of lifesaving blood for patients across the country."

The organization also emphasized the urgency of public participation, stating, "Just three more donors at each blood drive this summer can end this crisis and stabilize the blood supply."

Encouraging immediate action, the Red Cross added, "Don't wait. Those who may be eligible are urged to book an appointment now."

Also read: Women Are Three Times More Likely Than Men To Develop Anemia

Impact Of Blood Supply Shortage

The Red Cross warned that some patients are already experiencing delays in receiving blood transfusions as supplies become increasingly strained.

By prioritizing blood distribution to the most urgent cases, hospitals may face difficult decisions about how limited supplies are allocated.

Healthcare providers rely on a steady stream of donations because blood has a limited shelf life. Red blood cells can generally be stored for about six weeks, while platelets last only a few days, making continuous donations essential for maintaining adequate supplies.

The American Red Cross has urged all eligible donors, regardless of blood type, to schedule a blood donation as soon as possible. Officials believe that even a slight increase in donations at blood drives across the country could quickly stabilize blood inventory.