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.

Tiny plastic particles in the human body may cause serious heart attacks. A recent study observed that people who had microplastics present in their arteries supplying blood to the heart are more likely to experience severe heart attacks.

The study has raised concerns about the effects of plastic pollution on cardiovascular health.

Dangers Of Microplastics In Heart Arteries

A new study published in the European Heart Journal has found that people with microplastics present in the arteries supplying blood to the heart were more likely to experience larger and more severe heart attacks, raising concerns about the cardiovascular effects of plastic pollution.

Microplastics are plastic fragments smaller than five millimeters that originate from the breakdown of larger plastic items.

“Micro and nanoplastics are tiny plastic particles that are found virtually everywhere in the environment, including the air we breathe, the water we drink, and many foods we consume,” said Pasquale Paolisso, lead author of the study.

Although microplastics have already been detected in human blood, lungs, brain, and arteries, researchers are still trying to understand their long-term health effects.

Also read: Recovering From A Heart Attack? Avoid These Dangerous Mistakes

What Did The Study Find?

In the latest study, researchers analyzed 61 Italian patients who were treated for heart attacks and measured the presence of microplastics in blood collected from the coronary arteries.

Researchers also collected data on whether the patients were smokers and on their exposure to pollution.

“In our study, smoking history was strongly linked to microplastics in the blood. Our findings suggest that smoking might make it easier for micro and nanoplastics to enter the bloodstream via the lungs. Air pollution may act in a similar way,” Dr Emanuele Barbato, an author of the study from Sapienza University of Rome, said.

Scientists detected micro and nanoplastics in 84 per cent of patients who had heart attacks.

In comparison, only 40 per cent of patients with chronic ischemic heart disease and 32 per cent of patients with normal coronary arteries were found to have micro and nanoplastics.

Also read: US Senator & Trump's Close Ally Lindsey Graham Died Of Aortic Dissection: All About The Fatal Heart Emergency

They discovered that patients with higher levels of microplastics tended to have larger areas of heart muscle damage and greater inflammation, suggesting that these particles may be linked to more severe cardiovascular events.

“While the findings do not prove that plastics directly cause heart attacks, they strengthen the growing scientific evidence that plastic pollution is an emerging public health issue deserving serious attention,” said Thava Palanisami,” a plastic researcher at the University of Newcastle in Australia.

Built On A Landmark Study

The study is built on earlier research published in 2024, which found that patients whose arterial plaque contained microplastics and nanoplastics were more than four times as likely to suffer a heart attack, stroke, or death.

That landmark study was among the first to find that plastics accumulating inside blood vessels could have important clinical consequences.

Scientists believe microplastics may trigger chronic inflammation and oxidative stress, damage the cells lining blood vessels, and make fatty plaques in arteries more unstable. This could increase the likelihood of heart attacks.

Almost a year after the last Senate-confirmed director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), was fired for backing science and vaccines, President Donald Trump has nominated Dr. Erica Schwartz to head the agency, making her his third CDC nominee in less than two years.

Appearing before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) for her confirmation hearing on Wednesday, Schwartz pledged to restore public trust in the CDC through transparency and evidence-based decision-making.

However, she also faced pointed questions about vaccine policy, scientific independence, and whether she would resist pressure from Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Erica Schwartz: 'I Will Never Betray Science'

Schwartz highlighted her military background and said restoring confidence in public health institutions would be her top priority.

"If confirmed, my first priority will be restoring trust in public health institutions through radical transparency and unwavering scientific integrity," she said.

"As CDC director, my sacred responsibility is to provide the American people with public health guidance that is clear, honest, and evidence-based. I will never betray science," she added.

Schwartz previously served as deputy US surgeon general during Trump's first administration and held the rank of rear admiral in the US Coast Guard.

Who Is Dr. Erica Schwartz?

Dr. Erica Schwartz is a physician with an extensive background in medicine, public health, engineering, and law. She holds a medical degree (MD), a Master of Public Health (MPH) in epidemiology, a law degree, and a degree in biomedical engineering.

Before being nominated to lead the CDC, Schwartz held several senior public health and military leadership roles, including:

• Serving as a Navy occupational medicine physician and clinical epidemiologist
• Joining the US Public Health Service, where she was detailed to the US Coast Guard
• Serving as the Chief Medical Officer of the US Coast Guard
• Serving as the Deputy US Surgeon General, where she helped oversee national public health initiatives and emergency preparedness.

Erica Schwartz Backs Vaccines, Calls for Autism Research

Throughout the hearing, Schwartz repeatedly expressed support for vaccines, including mRNA COVID-19 vaccines, and strongly endorsed vitamin K injections for newborns to prevent life-threatening bleeding.

She also acknowledged that scientific evidence does not support a link between vaccines and autism, while arguing that more research is needed to better understand the rising prevalence of autism.

"We owe it to the American people to figure out why one in 30 children now has autism," she said.

Schwartz stated that she did not believe either President Trump or Health Secretary Kennedy would ask her to take actions that would harm public health or violate the law.

She also said she was unaware of Kennedy's decision to cancel nearly $500 million in mRNA vaccine contracts and was unfamiliar with reported cuts to smoking cessation and food safety programmes.

Public Health Experts Express Concern

Although many observers consider Schwartz a qualified nominee with mainstream public health credentials, some experts said her testimony did not provide enough reassurance that she would independently defend scientific evidence if political pressure arose.

Dr. Jeanne Marrazzo, chief executive of the Infectious Diseases Society of America, said she wanted stronger commitments to evidence-based science from leaders overseeing the nation's top public health institutions.

The hearing also renewed criticism of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s handling of the CDC.

Several Democratic senators, including Sen. Bernie Sanders, argued that former CDC director Dr. Susan Monarez was removed because she resisted Kennedy's vaccine policies.

"Dr. Monarez, to her credit, stood up for science, public health, and for the scientific method. Frankly, she stood up for protecting the well-being of the American people, and that was the reason that she was fired," Sanders said.

If confirmed by the Senate, Schwartz would replace Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, who’s been serving as acting CDC director since February.

A new Phase II clinical trial has found that a carefully formulated cannabis-based treatment may help alleviate agitation in people with advanced dementia. The findings offer hope for patients and caregivers who face one of the most distressing symptoms of the disease.

The findings are a result of the LiBBY (Life's End Benefits of cannaBidiol and tetrahYdrocannabinol) trial, that was presented at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference (AAIC) 2026 in London.

Researchers say the treatment, which combines purified tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) in an oral formulation, showed significant improvements compared to a placebo.

What Did The Trial Find?

The multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase II study enrolled 120 hospice-eligible adults with Alzheimer's disease or other forms of dementia experiencing significant agitation.

Participants received either the THC/CBD formulation or a placebo for 12 weeks. Researchers assessed agitation using the Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory (CMAI) along with clinician evaluations of behavioral improvement.

According to the trial results, participants in the cannabis treatment group experienced significantly greater reductions in agitation than those given a placebo.

Clinician assessments showed improvement in 83.9% of treated participants after two weeks, compared with 30.5% in the placebo group.

By 12 weeks, improvement was seen in 87.2% of treated participants versus 23.6% receiving placebo. Nearly 90% of treated participants showed overall clinical improvement during the study.

The study's lead investigator, Dr. Jacobo Mintzer of the Medical University of South Carolina, said, "These results were extremely impressive and showed a level of response not seen before in clinical trials related to dementia. Rarely do we see close to 90% of patients in a trial respond positively to a new medication."

He added, "Agitation affects many people with late-stage dementia, causing symptoms such as restlessness, aggression, and emotional distress that can profoundly impact patients and their caregivers. Current treatment options are limited and often carry significant side effects."

Also read: Normal Ageing or Alzheimer's? Doctors Explain Six Key Differences to Watch For

Agitation Is A Major Challenge in Advanced Dementia

Agitation affects the majority of people living with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias, especially in the advanced stages.

Symptoms may include pacing, aggression, yelling, restlessness, irritability, and emotional distress, making day-to-day care increasingly challenging.

It also places a heavy emotional and physical burden on caregivers. Many currently prescribed medications, including antipsychotics and sedatives, may increase the risk of falls, excessive sedation, stroke, or even death in older adults.

A treatment that safely reduces agitation without substantially increasing adverse events could be helpful for the patients as well as caregivers.

Investigators said that the results are the strongest seen so far in clinical trials on agitation in advanced dementia.

Also read: Alzheimer's May Be Detectable Years Before Symptoms, Says Neurology Expert

What Is Dementia?

Dementia is an umbrella term describing a significant decline in mental function that interferes with everyday life. It commonly affects memory, thinking and reasoning abilities and is caused by underlying conditions such as Alzheimer's disease or vascular dementia.

Common Signs of Dementia:

• Memory problems
• Confusion
• Difficulty finding words
• Changes in mood or behavior
• Trouble completing familiar tasks

The Growing Global Burden

Dementia significantly affects an individual's ability to live independently, work and perform daily activities while placing a substantial burden on families and caregivers.

According to the WHO, dementia costs the global economy an estimated US$1.3 trillion every year, with about half of that amount attributed to unpaid care provided by family members and friends.