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.

Global cancer cases could reach nearly 35 million a year by 2050, without urgent action to improve cancer prevention, early diagnosis and access to treatment, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Status Report on Cancer 2026.

The report warns that cancer remains the world's second leading cause of death, claiming more than 26,000 lives every day and nearly 10 million annually.

The report, jointly released by the WHO and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), warned that major inequalities in cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment and supportive care continue to leave millions of people without access to life-saving services.

It also noted that ageing populations, population growth and persistent health inequalities are driving the cancer cases.

"Cancer is a deeply personal disease that touches nearly all of us. But whether a person survives cancer should never depend on where they were born or what they earn," said WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

"The inequities documented in this report are not inevitable; they are the consequence of choices, and they can be reversed through stronger and unified action."

Global Status Report on Cancer 2026: Key Findings

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Cancer survival varies sharply across countries

The report highlights major disparities in cancer outcomes.

• 87% of women diagnosed with breast cancer survive at least five years in high-income countries.
• In low-income countries, the five-year survival rate falls to around 42%.
• Fewer than one in three countries include comprehensive cancer care under universal health coverage.

Cancer places a heavy financial burden on families

Beyond its health impact, cancer also creates significant economic and emotional challenges.

• At least 45% of people living with cancer experience financial hardship.
• More than half report mental health challenges.
• Nearly all caregivers experience strain, including unpaid caregiving responsibilities and social isolation.

Read More: US Cyclospora Parasite Outbreak Nears 900 Cases: Experts Say Handwashing Key to Prevention

Which Regions Have the Highest Cancer Burden?

The report shows that the burden of cancer varies significantly across regions.

Asia

• Accounts for 50.7% of global cancer cases.
• Records 56.5% of cancer deaths worldwide.

Europe

Although home to only about 9% of the world's population, Europe accounts for:

• 21% of global cancer cases.
• 20% of global cancer deaths.

Africa

Many African countries continue to experience comparatively lower cancer incidence but disproportionately higher mortality because of delayed diagnosis and limited access to treatment.

Most Common Types of Cancer Worldwide

READ: Don't Ignore These Cancer Symptoms: Oncologist Shares The Early Warning Signs

According to the WHO report:

• Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer deaths globally.
• Among men, the most common cancers are:
  • Lung
  • Prostate
  • Colorectal
• Among women, the leading cancers are:
  • Breast
  • Lung
  • Colorectal

Nearly Four in Ten Cancer Cases Are Preventable

The report estimates that almost 40% of cancer cases worldwide are linked to preventable risk factors, including:

• Tobacco use
• Alcohol consumption
• High body weight
• Physical inactivity
• Human papillomavirus (HPV)
• Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C infections
• Helicobacter pylori infection

WHO's Recommendations to Improve Global Cancer Care

The WHO has urged governments, health organizations, researchers and the private sector to work together to strengthen cancer care through three broad priorities:

Better capabilities

• Integrate cancer control into universal health coverage.
• Invest in cancer prevention, early detection and the healthcare workforce.

Better protections

• Put people living with cancer and caregivers at the centre of health systems.
• Expand financial and social protection for affected families.

Better value

• Align cancer research and innovation with public health priorities.
• Ensure equitable access to effective, evidence-based cancer treatments worldwide.

Novo Nordisk, the maker of GLP-1 medicines like Ozempic and Wegovy, is currently exploring a new way to deliver weight-loss treatment that could reduce the need for weekly injections.

The Danish pharma company has partnered with Vivani Medical to evaluate an experimental long-acting GLP-1 implant (semaglutide) that could release the medication continuously for up to a year.

If successful, it could mark a significant step toward making GLP-1 drug more convenient for people living with obesity.

What Is The Semaglutide Implant?

The implant, known as NPM-139, is a miniature device developed using Vivani's proprietary NanoPortal technology. Rather than requiring patients to inject semaglutide every week, the tiny implant is placed beneath the skin and slowly releases the medication over an extended period.

According to Vivani, the goal is to provide consistent drug delivery with once- or twice-yearly dosing, with the long-term ambition of supporting treatment that could last up to a year from a single implant. However, the technology is still in development.

Adam Mendelsohn, Ph.D., President and CEO of Vivani Medical said, “The new agreement announced today supporting our semaglutide implant program in chronic weight management demonstrates Novo Nordisk's interest in evaluating our technology and its lead semaglutide application. This agreement reinforces our confidence regarding the market opportunity for our GLP-1 implants under development. We believe that our NanoPortal implants under development, including NPM-139, could address a growing segment of patients who would prefer a convenient once- or twice-yearly treatment option and the peace of mind that treatment could be stopped at any time if that became necessary.”

Also read: Wegovy Weight Loss Pill Available in UK Pharmacies From Today: All You Should Know

Why GLP-1 Implant Could Be Groundbreaking?

GLP-1 medications like Ozempic and Wegovy have transformed obesity treatment by helping people lose significant amounts of weight while also improving blood sugar control. However, these medications require regular injections, which can affect long-term adherence.

Research has shown that many patients discontinue GLP-1 therapy within the first year because of factors like treatment fatigue, gastrointestinal side effects, cost, and the inconvenience of ongoing injections.

An implant capable of delivering semaglutide continuously for months together could help by reducing dosing frequency and maintaining more consistent drug levels.

The Rise Of GLP-1 Therapies In Obesity Treatment

The obesity drug market is rapidly evolving. With the advent of GLP-1 medications, the number of users who have tried this therapy is at an all-time high. According to Gallup's latest National Health and Well-Being Index, 11% of U.S. adults currently use a GLP-1 medication for weight loss. In 2024, this number was just 3%.

The survey also said that 15% of adults have tried a GLP-1 medication at some point, compared to the 6% from two years ago.

With the ever-increasing demand, researchers are investigating oral GLP-1 medicines, monthly injections, combination therapies, and now long-acting implants that could reduce the number of treatments patients need each year.

While the yearly semaglutide implant is still an experimental concept, Novo Nordisk's decision to evaluate the technology highlights growing industry interest in making obesity treatment simpler and easier for patients to maintain in the long run.

Last week, biohacker and longevity entrepreneur Bryan Johnson shared a shocking health update with his followers. He said that he has been diagnosed with Autoimmune Gastritis (AIG), a chronic autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks the stomach lining. In an X post, he said, “My stomach is eating itself.”

After his post received millions of reactions, he shared his ambitious plan to treat his autoimmune gastritis.

How Is Bryan Johnson Planning To ‘Cure’ His Autoimmune Gastritis?

One of the most unusual aspects of Bryan’s AIG treatment plan is creating a miniature version of his immune system called ‘Bryan In A Dish'. He said that scientists will collect and cryopreserve (freeze) a large sample of his immune cells for two purposes.

First, researchers plan to recreate a miniature version of Johnson's immune system in a laboratory dish. This living model would allow scientists to test experimental drugs and personalized therapies directly on his own immune cells before administering them to him, potentially reducing risks while helping identify the most promising treatment.

Second, the frozen cells could preserve cellular material that may support future targeted rejuvenation or precision medicine therapies.

While scientists have long used “disease-in-a-dish" models to study diseases and drugs, Bryan’s “Bryan in a dish” goes a step further by creating a personalized immune system model using his own preserved cells to test experimental autoimmune treatments before they are used in his body.

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Other steps in his plan includes:

• Mapping the immune system:

Johnson plans to sequence one million of his immune cells to identify the specific T-cells that are mistakenly attacking his stomach lining.

• Capturing the rogue immune cells:

He will undergo another stomach biopsy to collect live tissue, allowing researchers to match the harmful T-cells with the immune cell mapping data.

• Building an early warning system

Johnson intends to have blood tests every two weeks and combine the results with wearable health data to detect disease flare-ups before symptoms appear. He said that this is essential as the condition presents without any symptoms.

• Develop precision therapies

After identifying the rogue immune cells, researchers will test personalized treatments designed to stop only those harmful cells while preserving the healthy immune system.

Bryan Johnson's Autoimmune Gastritis Diagnosis

Despite years of optimizing his body, Bryan’s Johnson’s autoimmune gastritis diagnosis shocked the internet. While his strict routines, meticulous diet, and million-dollar anti-ageing protocol continue to inspire millions, they also receive equal amounts of skepticism and criticism.

Johnson recently revealed that he had struggled with persistently low iron for nearly 11 years, despite taking supplements.

He said that a detailed evaluation confirmed autoimmune gastritis, an illness that damages the acid-producing cells of the stomach. The condition can impair absorption of iron and vitamin B12 and may increase the long-term risk of gastric cancer.

He also disclosed that he has autoimmune thyroid disease, suggesting that multiple autoimmune conditions may be interconnected in his case.