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.

Nearly 60 years after humanity first set foot on the Moon, NASA has launched its historic Artemis II mission, marking the first crewed journey around the lunar surface.

The nearly 10-day flight was launched successfully on April 1 from the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida at 6:24 p.m. EDT.

Four astronauts were launched to the surface of the Moon aboard Orion, which lifted off atop NASA's Space Launch System.

The Orion spacecraft flight carries NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, along with Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen.

The crew aims to loop around the moon and return to Earth on a free-return trajectory, reaching roughly 4,700 miles (7,560 kilometers) beyond the moon's far side — farther than Apollo 8's historic lunar flyby and the most distant journey ever attempted by humans.

During the 10-day journey, the four astronauts will also perform several science experiments, along with scientists on Earth, to facilitate science investigations to inform future human spaceflight missions.

NASA stated that the Artemis II science operations will lay the foundation for safe and efficient human exploration of the Moon and Mars.

Health Research in Space

• Artemis Research for Crew Health and Readiness (ARCHeR)

The study will evaluate how crew members perform individually and as a team throughout the mission, including how easily they can move around within the confined space of their Orion spacecraft.

• A Virtual Astronaut Tissue Analog Response (AVATAR)

• The Immune Biomarkers

Scientists will analyze blood and saliva samples from Artemis II crew members to see how deep space changes the immune system.

• Artemis II Standard Measures

Crews are supplying a consistent set of health information to a data bank so that future researchers can learn more about astronaut health.

• Radiation Studies

Equipment will monitor radiation levels inside and outside the Orion capsule to help characterize the deep space environment.

“The findings are expected to provide vital insights for future missions to destinations beyond low Earth orbit, including Mars,” said Laurie Abadie, an aerospace engineer for the program at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.

“The lessons we learn from this crew will help us to more safely accomplish deep space missions and research,” she said.

Steven Platts, chief scientist for human research at NASA Johnson, explained the mission will need to protect against challenges, including exposure to higher radiation levels than on the International Space Station, since the crew will be farther from Earth.

“Together, these studies will allow scientists to better understand how the immune system performs in deep space, teach us more about astronauts’ overall well-being ahead of a Mars mission, and help scientists develop ways to ensure the health and success of crew members,” he said.

The emerging COVID-19 BA.3.2 variant, dubbed Cicada and detected in 23 countries, may not pose a significant global threat, claimed a study.

The 2025 study, published in the mBio journal, showed that the immune response of the BA 3.2 COVID variant from vaccines or prior infection is less effective than against the original strain. The antibody effectiveness is three times lower against the BA.3.2 variant. However, it does not mean that there is no protection at all.

“BA.3.2 showed intermediate neutralization, representing a 3-fold reduction compared to the ancestral strain,” said the researchers from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, US.

“BA.3.2 occupied an intermediate but distinctly separate position,” they said, adding that the variant “shows substantial immune escape potential that threatens protection”.

In the study, the researchers used antigenic mapping to assess neutralizing antibody responses in 56 adults with varied exposure histories following KP.2 vaccination against emerging variants, including LP.8.1, LF.7.1, NB.1.8.1, XFG, and BA.3.2.

While KP.2 vaccination enhanced neutralization against homologous variants, substantial reductions in neutralizing activity were observed against emerging Omicron variants across all exposure groups.

Exposure history showed some influence on neutralization breadth, with self-reported vaccination-only participants exhibiting better cross-neutralization compared to individuals with hybrid immunity.

The findings highlight the ongoing challenge of maintaining vaccine effectiveness against evolving SARS-CoV-2 variants and argue for continuous updating of vaccines, the researchers said.

“Despite its extraordinary number of mutations, BA.3.2 is not able to overcome immunity from vaccination, finds study. Other variants were more capable of evading immunity. This indicates it is not a major real-world threat,” said Dr Rajeev Jayadevan, Ex-President of IMA Cochin and Convener of the Research Cell, Kerala, in a post on social media platform X. He was not part of the study.

What Is The BA.3.2 Variant?

BA.3.2 is a descendant of the Omicron BA.3 lineage. It is genetically distinct from the previously circulating JN.1 lineages (including LP.8.1 and XFG).

BA.3.2 comprises two major branches, BA.3.2.1 and BA.3.2.2. BA.3.2.2 also has substitutions like: K356T, A575S, R681H, and R1162P, the CDC report said.

What makes the BA.3.2 variant special is the “70 to 75 substitutions and deletions in the gene sequence of its spike protein”, according to the US CDC’s latest Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

“BA.3.2 represents a new lineage of SARS-CoV-2, genetically distinct from the JN.1 lineages (including LP.8.1 and XFG) that have circulated in the US since January 2024,” said the CDC researchers.

“BA.3.2 mutations in the spike protein have the potential to reduce protection from a previous infection or vaccination,” they added.

Cicada Variant: Increased Risks To Children

However, the new Cicada variant with around 75 genetic changes in its spike protein is likely to disproportionately affect children, as per an expert, who noted its presence in the UK.

“Some people have done analysis on this, suggesting it may be more prevalent among young children. Children get infections all the time, but this might be something to do with the fact that they have never been exposed to Covid vaccines," Prof Ravindra Gupta, of Cambridge University, who advised the UK government during the pandemic, was quoted as saying to The Mirror.

“So this is something we’re looking at in the lab to try and work out why. The problem with this is that it is an infection that spreads fast. Eventually, it ends up in someone vulnerable," he added.

Symptoms seem to be similar to those of other recent variants and include

sore throat,

cough,

congestion,

fatigue,

headache

fever.

According to the CDC, the Cicada variant is also likely to raise gastrointestinal issues such as nausea or diarrhea.

The Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2026, passed by both Houses of Parliament, marks a significant step towards decriminalizing the health sector by amending certain provisions and boosting compliance.

The Union Health Ministry said that the Bill reflects the Government’s commitment to fostering a trust-based governance framework and ensuring proportionate regulation by reducing the compliance burden on individuals and businesses.

The reforms involving 23 Ministries rationalized over 1,000 offences across 79 Central Acts. These are aimed at helping advance Ease of Doing Business and Ease of Living across sectors.

It makes a key shift from criminal penalties to civil penalties as well as introduces adjudication mechanisms. The amendments ensure consistency, predictability, and proportionality in enforcement, the Ministry said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the passing of the Jan Vishwas Bill by the Parliament "a matter of immense delight".

"This Bill strengthens a trust-based framework that empowers our citizens. It marks the end of rules and regulations that are outdated. At the same time, it ensures speedy disposal of cases, reduces litigation burden with decriminalization," PM Modi added.

Know ALL About the Jan Vishwas Bill

• Within the health sector, several provisions have been amended in key legislation, such as the

Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 -- to substitute imprisonment with financial penalties and to introduce a structured adjudication mechanism.

Pharmacy Act, 1948 -- to modernize penalty provisions and enhance accountability through increased financial penalties for non-compliance.

Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 -- to strengthen enforcement while ensuring that penalties are proportionate to the nature of the offence.

Clinical Establishments (Registration and Regulation) Act, 2010 - to emphasize monetary penalties for non-compliance, particularly in cases where deficiencies do not pose immediate risks to patient safety.

National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions Act, 2021 -- to ensure compliance with professional standards and regulatory requirements, with penalties designed to deter violations while maintaining proportionality.

• The new Bill replaces criminal penalties, particularly imprisonment for minor procedural violations, with graded monetary penalties.

The Bill introduces a civil penalty framework to reduce the burden on courts, minimize layers of litigation, and enable faster resolution of minor compliance issues.

In the case of cosmetics, minor violations (other than spurious or adulterated) will not require court intervention and can instead be addressed through a civil penalty framework.

Further, violations such as non-maintenance of documents or non-submission of information, which were earlier punishable through court-imposed fines or imprisonment, can now be adjudicated through this civil penalty mechanism.

For the first time, the Act provides for the appointment of adjudicating authorities by the Central Government and State Governments, along with a defined process involving issuance of show cause notices, provision for personal hearing, and an appellate mechanism.

Union Health Minister JP Nadda noted that the Jan Vishwas Bill, "aims to remove outdated laws, reduce unnecessary legal burdens, and create a system that responds faster to people’s needs".

"These reforms will streamline operations for Indian medical devices manufacturers, enhance global competitiveness, and align with international best practices, ultimately benefiting patients and healthcare delivery across the country," Rajiv Nath, Forum Coordinator of The Association of Indian Medical Devices Industry (AiMeD).