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.

India has intensified its efforts to eliminate tuberculosis (TB) through early detection, advanced diagnostics, nutritional support and community participation under the Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan, launched in September 2022, the Union Health Ministry said.

Citing the WHO Global Tuberculosis Report 2026, the ministry said India recorded a 38% decline in TB mortality since 2015, outperforming the global reduction of 35%. The country also achieved a 94% treatment success rate among patients with drug-susceptible TB.

TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan: 15 Lakh Asymptomatic Cases Detected

The campaign has expanded its screening efforts through intensified 100-day campaigns, including initiatives launched on December 7, 2024, and March 24, 2026.

Between December 7, 2024, and November 8, 2026, more than 25 crore people were brought under TB screening activities.

According to the ministry, the screening drive resulted in:

• More than 11 crore chest X-rays conducted.
• Over 3 crore nucleic acid amplification tests (NAAT) conducted.
• 48.64 lakh TB cases detected, including 14.97 lakh asymptomatic cases.

"The detection of nearly 15 lakh asymptomatic cases is particularly significant, demonstrating the effectiveness of proactive screening in identifying individuals who might otherwise remain undiagnosed. Early identification facilitates timely treatment and provides opportunities to reduce TB transmission and prevent severe disease," the ministry said.

How The Intensified TB Screening Campaign Works

The first intensified 100-day campaign was launched on December 7, 2024, across 347 high-priority districts in 33 states and Union Territories. It was subsequently expanded nationwide to strengthen early detection, particularly among vulnerable and high-risk populations.

A second intensified 100-day campaign, launched on March 24, 2026, focused on screening in 1.58 lakh high-risk villages and wards, congregate settings and vulnerable populations.

Technology And Innovation In TB Diagnosis And Care

The campaign uses chest X-rays and rapid molecular diagnostic tests to identify and diagnose TB cases. Portable AI-enabled digital X-rays and other technology-enabled tools have also been deployed to strengthen screening and diagnosis.

• AI-enabled X-rays: Portable digital X-rays supported by artificial intelligence help strengthen screening and early detection.
• Rapid molecular testing: Nucleic acid amplification tests (NAAT) enable faster TB diagnosis.
• Ni-kshay digital platform: Supports patient tracking, treatment monitoring and programme management, helping ensure continuity of care.
• Comorbidity screening: TB screening is integrated with the identification and management of diabetes, undernutrition and other comorbidities.

What Happens After TB Detection?

The campaign focuses on prompt treatment initiation, differentiated patient care, nutritional assistance and continued community-based support to improve treatment outcomes.

Through the Ni-kshay Poshan Yojana, eligible patients receive financial assistance towards their nutritional requirements during treatment. The Ni-kshay Mitra initiative encourages individuals, institutions and organisations to provide nutritional and psychosocial support.

The ministry said 67,933 panchayats were declared TB-free in 2025, reflecting efforts to involve communities in India's TB elimination programme.

India Records 38% Decline In TB Mortality

According to the WHO Global Tuberculosis Report 2026, India's estimated TB mortality rate declined from 28 per lakh population in 2015 to 18 per lakh in 2025, representing a 38% reduction.

The country also recorded a 94% treatment success rate among patients with drug-susceptible TB.

The government said 96% of the TB programme's funding requirements are being met through domestic resources.

Several viral social media trends promoting physical appearance and self-improvement have raised health concerns, with some encouraging potentially dangerous practices.

One such trend, known as "heightmaxxing", has prompted warnings from doctors after reports emerged of teenage boys taking black-market cancer drugs in an attempt to grow taller.

Aolescents are reportedly experimenting with erdafitinib, often referred to online as "ERDA" or "Erta", a prescription drug approved to treat advanced bladder cancer. The trend appears to have gained traction following online discussions suggesting the medication could increase height.

"It's extremely concerning that teenagers are experimenting with powerful cancer medications in an attempt to grow taller," Dr. Stephanie Widmer, a New York City-based emergency medicine physician, told Fox News.

"These drugs were developed to treat serious medical conditions, not to enhance physical appearance, and taking them without a legitimate medical indication or physician supervision can have devastating consequences," Widmer added.

In a statement to magazine Rolling Stone, drugmaker Johnson & Johnson emphasised that erdafitinib has never been approved to stimulate height growth and that its safety and effectiveness have not been established in children or adolescents.

Can Erdafitinib Actually Increase Height?

Also read: After Ferritin Face, Doctors Warn About 'Ferritin Hair': What Are The Signs?

Medical research has documented unexpected growth spurts in children receiving erdafitinib for brain tumours. A 2024 study published in Hormone Research in Paediatrics described accelerated growth in two paediatric patients.

A separate case report documented a teenager who grew more than five inches during treatment but also developed serious skeletal complications.

However, doctors caution that these unexpected growth spurts do not necessarily indicate healthy skeletal development.

Dr. Jessica Gray, a family physician in Lubbock, Texas, warned that rapid, drug-induced growth could trigger dangerous structural problems, including premature growth plate damage and bone fractures, Fox News reported.

What Are The Health Risks Of Heightmaxxing With Cancer Drugs?

Read More: Joe Biden Opens Up About Life With Stage 4 Prostate Cancer: ‘It Hasn't Stopped Me, But Sometimes Slowed Down’

Widmer noted that height is largely determined by genetics and that there are no shortcuts to increasing it. Once the growth plates close towards the end of puberty, medications cannot reopen them. This means older adolescents taking erdafitinib could face serious health risks without any prospect of gaining height, she said.

"One of the biggest concerns is that these medications can cause serious side effects, including potentially permanent vision damage, elevated phosphate levels and other metabolic abnormalities," Widmer said.

"We're talking about adolescents whose bodies are still developing, and exposing them to these risks for a cosmetic goal is particularly troubling."

Erdafitinib works by blocking specific cellular signalling pathways involved in cancer cell growth. These pathways also play a role in bone development, which may help explain the unexpected growth observed in some paediatric patients.

Other reported side effects include skeletal pain, particularly in the hips or knees, mouth sores, loose nails and skin disorders.

What Should Parents Do?

Doctors advise parents to watch for unusual joint pain or unexplained physical changes and speak openly with their children if they suspect they are using medications obtained online.

Teenagers concerned about their height or growth should consult a paediatrician rather than experiment with prescription drugs.

"We should be encouraging teenagers to prioritize their health, not teaching them to gamble with it," Widmer said. "No amount of additional height is worth risking permanent damage to your vision or other serious and potentially unknown medical complications."

Global tuberculosis (TB) deaths have fallen by 35% since 2015, but progress in reducing new infections remains slow, according to a new report by the World Health Organization (WHO).

The Global Tuberculosis Report 2026 showed that TB remained the world's leading cause of death from a single infectious agent in 2025 and ranked 13th among all causes of death.

Based primarily on data reported to WHO by 187 countries and areas, the report estimates that 1.13 million people died from TB in 2025, while 10.6 million developed the disease.

TB Death Reduction Milestone Achieved Five Years Late

Compared with 1.74 million deaths in 2015, TB deaths fell by 35% in 2025, marking the achievement of the first milestone of the WHO End TB Strategy, originally set for 2020. However, the strategy's target of a 90% reduction in TB deaths by 2030 remains distant.

Progress in reducing new infections has been slower. The global TB incidence rate fell by just 14% between 2015 and 2025, against a target of a 50% reduction by 2025.

Also read: TB Treatment in 4 Months With 3 or Fewer Injections? WHO Pushes for Long-Acting Options

India Accounts For One In Four Global TB Cases

India was among two high-burden countries, alongside China, to achieve a 35% reduction in TB deaths since 2015. However, it continued to account for approximately one in four TB cases worldwide in 2025.

The report highlights persistent gaps in diagnosis, treatment, prevention and financing, underscoring the need for sustained investment and stronger health services.

International donor funding for TB prevention, diagnosis and treatment in low- and middle-income countries fell by 14% in 2025, from US$1.1 billion to US$940 million.

WHO cautions that estimates of TB disease burden should be interpreted using the latest published time series, as direct comparisons with estimates from previous report editions are not appropriate.

"The continued decline in TB cases and deaths is very encouraging, especially given the challenges many countries have faced from funding cuts. And yet, more than one million people still die each year from a disease that is preventable and treatable," WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said.

He urged countries and partners to expand access to TB services, protect essential funding and accelerate the development of new tools to end the epidemic.

Which Countries Account For The Most TB Cases?

The 30 high TB burden countries accounted for 88% of global cases in 2025. The eight countries with the largest shares were:

• India: Approximately 25%
• Indonesia: 10%
• Philippines: 6.8%
• China: 6.5%
• Pakistan: 6.4%
• Nigeria: 4.9%
• Democratic Republic of the Congo: 3.9%
• Bangladesh: 3.7%

Of all people who developed TB in 2025, 54% were men, 35% were women and 11% were children.

Key Findings: TB Diagnosis And Drug-Resistant Treatment

Read More: 94% Of TB Patients Report Anxiety, 77% Depression: Study Highlights Mental Health Toll Of India's TB Burden

The report also highlights gaps in TB diagnosis and treatment, particularly for drug-resistant forms of the disease.

An estimated 10.6 million people developed TB in 2025, but only 8.4 million were diagnosed and reported to WHO. The remaining estimated cases were not captured by diagnosis and reporting systems.

Other findings include:

• Rapid testing: 59% of newly diagnosed patients were initially tested using a rapid diagnostic test, up from 54% in 2024. This remains below the 2027 target of 100%.
• Drug-resistant TB: 155,333 people received treatment for rifampicin-resistant TB (RR-TB), accounting for 42% of the estimated 370,000 people who developed the disease.
• Shorter treatment: Six-month treatment regimens were used for 42% of people treated for RR-TB, compared with 18% in 2024.
• Treatment success: Success rates remained around 90% for drug-susceptible TB and 70% for RR-TB.

TB Risk Factors And Vaccine Development

The report identifies several factors associated with the number of people developing TB each year at the country level. These include income per capita and the prevalence of undernutrition, diabetes, alcohol use disorders, smoking and HIV infection.

TB vaccine research is also progressing. As of August 2026, 12 TB vaccines were in active clinical development, including three in Phase 3 trials.

TB Prevention And Treatment Coverage

In 2025, 5.2 million people at high risk of developing TB received preventive treatment, including 3.7 million household contacts of people diagnosed with TB and 1.5 million people living with HIV.

Coverage remained uneven:

• Among people living with HIV, preventive treatment coverage increased from 58% in 2024 to 60% in 2025.
• Among household contacts of people diagnosed with TB, coverage rose from 25% to 26%.

Between 2000 and 2025, TB treatment is estimated to have prevented 86 million deaths.

TB Funding Falls Short Of Global Targets

Funding for TB prevention, diagnosis and treatment in low- and middle-income countries reached US$6.6 billion in 2025, up from US$6 billion in 2024. However, this remains substantially below the annual target of US$22 billion by 2027.

• Domestic funding: Increased from US$4.9 billion in 2024 to US$5.63 billion in 2025.
• International donor funding: Declined by 14%, from US$1.1 billion to US$940 million.

The economic burden also remains significant. About 50% of people with TB and their households face costs exceeding 20% of their annual household income, highlighting the need for stronger universal health coverage and social protection.