Latest news with #HIV-free
IOL News
10-07-2025
- Health
- IOL News
Lenacapavir: A game changer for HIV prevention in South Africa
"This is a game changer for South Africa," said Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi as The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria on Wednesday secured access to breakthrough HIV prevention for low and middle income countries. "Lenacapavir offers young women, and everyone at risk, a discreet, long-acting option to stay HIV-free. "For far too long, women and girls in our country have carried the greatest burden of this epidemic. "But scientific breakthroughs must be backed by political will, community leadership, and sustained investment. We are determined to ensure no one is left behind.' The deal signed between with US pharmaceutical giant Gilead and the Global Fund will mean lower-income countries will gain access to a the HIV prevention drug at the same time as in high-income countries. There was particular urgency in countries like South Africa, where adolescent girls and young women are disproportionately affected by HIV.
Chicago Tribune
29-06-2025
- Health
- Chicago Tribune
As HIV research gutted at federal level, NWI man shares his HIV story
Jeremy Gregson was sitting in his Northwest Indiana home two years ago when he got the call that his blood work from earlier in the day came back positive for HIV. Gregson, 48, said he suffered a stroke in 2023, and when he went to his doctor for follow-up care he told her to test him for everything. Within 30 minutes of testing his blood sample, the doctors learned he was HIV positive, he said. With that knowledge, Gregson said doctors believe his stroke was caused by the HIV virus in his system. Gregson said he approached his diagnosis with medical reasoning, in that he knew what to do next: Get set up with the Aliveness Project of NWI, which is a STD and HIV/AIDS prevention and awareness organization, get medication and get an infectious disease doctor. 'With today's technology and medicines, it's treatable so I said, 'Okay, I'll take a pill,'' Gregson said. 'It was like, 'I'll just take medicine and be fine.'' Human immunodeficiency virus, HIV, damages the immune system, which results in the body being less able to fight infection and disease. Over time, if untreated, HIV can become acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, AIDS, according to the Mayo Clinic. HIV is spread through sexual intercourse, contact with blood or through childbirth. There is no cure for HIV or AIDS, but medicines can control the infection, according to the Mayo Clinic. The most challenging part of his diagnosis, Gregson said, was that his doctor didn't perform the proper testing to determine when he first became HIV positive. Gregson said he has since found a new doctor, and on June 25 he went to take a specialized test to hopefully determine when he first came in contact with the infection. Currently, Gregson takes a pill daily as treatment and his viral load has been so low that he's undetectable. But, Gregson said his viral load has to decrease a little more to qualify for a bimonthly shot, which is his and his doctor's goal. Overall, Gregson said his life has stayed mostly the same since his diagnosis. Recently, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. laid off the entire staff of the federal government's Office of Infectious Disease and HIV/AIDS Policy, as part of a restructuring plan that involved cutting 20,000 HHS positions. Gregson said that move left him feeling confused. 'How does research and testing affect him or anyone else in the government? What is this guy doing?' Gregson said. 'We're so close. They're already testing cures in other countries, and it's working. Why can't we just get this and move forward?' Kennedy has also engaged in HIV and AIDS denialism in one of his books. Protesters interrupted a U.S. Senate hearing on Wednesday where Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought was recommending a $400 million cut to global health programs like the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), which has helped save 26 million lives and helped nearly 8 million babies to be born HIV-free across the world, according to the George W. Bush Institute. Cutting funding would endanger access to lifesaving antiretroviral medication for more than 20 million people and could put babies at risk of contracting HIV or losing their parents to the disease, the Bush Institute's statement said. The Aliveness Project Program Director Antoinette Cardenas said in a statement that the organization is 'deeply concerned about the federal government's decision to significantly reduce funding and dismantle key HIV/AIDS research.' 'These changes not only jeopardize the progress we've made in prevention, treatment and education but also send a harmful message to communities still disproportionately impacted by HIV — particularly Black, brown, LGBTQ+, and low-income individuals,' Cardenas said. Federal research had played a critical role in improving health outcomes, advancing treatment options and addressing stigma, Cardenas said. 'Scaling back this support risks reversing hard-won gains, especially in areas like Northwest Indiana, where disparities in care and access remain stark,' Cardenas said. The Aliveness Project will remain committed to serving those living with HIV/AIDS through HIV testing, prevention and education, harm reduction, linkage to care and comprehensive care management, Cardenas said. The organization will also expand local partnerships and seek alternative funding sources to sustain and grow its services, Cardenas said. 'We urge federal leaders to reconsider these cuts and reinvest in life-saving research that protects vulnerable populations and upholds public health. Lives depend on it,' Cardenas said. After the layoffs were announced, HIV + Hepatitis Policy Institute executive director Carl Schmid released a statement stating the U.S. cannot take a break from researching and treating infectious diseases as it will result in a rise in infections and medical costs. 'This was not done to increase government efficiency but was a blatant attack on specific communities and populations. With all of these cuts, how are we going to, as Secretary Kennedy repeatedly says, 'Make America Healthy Again'?' Schmid said. UNAIDS released a statement in May ahead of International Day against homophobia, biphobia and transphobia that despite progress in the HIV response LGBTQI+ communities have seen an increase in new HIV infections. Since 2010, new HIV infections have dropped 35% among adults globally, while new HIV infections have increased 11% among gay men and by 3% among trans people, according to the release. 'Threats to the lives and dignity of LGBTI people are escalating worldwide and cuts to foreign and development aid, as well as rollbacks in diversity, equity and inclusion policies, are only making it worse – especially for our communities,' said Julia Ehrt, ILGA World executive director, in the statement. 'Every day, we see projects and organizations to advance safety, well-being and dignity being shut down.' UNAIDS executive director Winnie Byanyima said the organization will continue to support LGBTQ communities throughout the world. 'We must continue supporting and promoting partnerships of LGBTQI+ movements with people living with HIV, women and girls and other key populations. In unity, communities can find the power to disrupt injustice and drive the changes that are required to end AIDs,' Byanyima said. Gregson said he is hopeful that researchers will find ways to continue pushing forward with their work in HIV/AIDS treatment and research. 'The people in that field do it for the passion,' Gregson said.
New York Post
05-06-2025
- Health
- New York Post
Doctors near HIV cure with ‘previously impossible' discovery: ‘We have never seen anything close to as good'
An estimated 39 million people around the world are living with HIV — and, while treatment options can ensure they have long, healthy lives, there is no known cure. Antiretroviral therapy (ART) — the most effective current treatment — can reduce HIV levels in the body so low the virus is almost undetectable. An estimated 39 million people around the world are living with HIV. dpa/picture alliance via Getty Images However, the fact that the virus can hide in certain white blood cells has been a major hurdle in fully eradicating it. Now, researchers in Australia have developed a novel lipid nanoparticle, dubbed LNP X, capable of delivering mRNA into these elusive cells. Once inside, the mRNA instructs the cells to reveal the concealed virus, potentially allowing the immune system or additional therapies to target and destroy it. Paula Cevaal, research fellow at the Doherty Institute and co-first author of the study, told the Guardian that this remarkable scientific feat was 'previously thought impossible.' 'In the field of biomedicine, many things eventually don't make it into the clinic — that is the unfortunate truth; I don't want to paint a prettier picture than what is the reality,' Cevaal said. Researchers in Australia have developed a novel lipid nanoparticle, dubbed LNP X, capable of delivering mRNA into white blood cells harboring HIV (pictured here). Corona Borealis – 'But in terms of specifically the field of HIV cure, we have never seen anything close to as good as what we are seeing, in terms of how well we are able to reveal this virus,' Cevaal added. 'So from that point of view, we're very hopeful that we are also able to see this type of response in an animal, and that we could eventually do this in humans.' The results were published last week in the journal Nature Communications. While it could take years to get to human clinical trials — the implications are enormous. The findings add to the latest scientific advancements that suggest a cure for HIV could be on the horizon. Last year, researchers in Amsterdam used gene-editing technology to eliminate all traces of the virus from cells in the laboratory. And last July, a 60-year-old German man was declared HIV-free, making him the seventh person to be cured.
Time Magazine
08-05-2025
- Business
- Time Magazine
Ndidi Okonkwo Nwuneli and Charlize Theron: Young Africans Are Ready to Lead. We Must Protect Their Health
If you want to glimpse the future, look to Africa—the youngest, fastest-growing continent brimming with potential. As two women raised in Africa, we've witnessed firsthand the incredible promise this continent holds. By 2050, a quarter of people on Earth will be African. This youth boom is an unprecedented opportunity. With proper investments, these young people can drive innovation and economic growth globally. The next big tech disruptor? They could be coding in Lagos. The medical student ready to discover the next health innovation? They might be studying in Nairobi right now. They will found startups, staff entire industries, and supply the ingenuity every economic revolution needs. There are already powerful stories emerging across Africa, showing what's possible when young Africans are given the opportunity and resources to thrive. In Nigeria, Temie Giwa-Tubosun founded LifeBank—the "Amazon for blood" —using technology to deliver blood and oxygen to hospitals, saving over 20,000 lives since 2016. From mobile money in Kenya to electric vehicles in Ghana, Africa's innovators are leading in fintech, green tech, and creative industries. But right now, millions of young Africans risk never reaching their potential because of a disease we know how to prevent and treat. Two decades ago, the world united against the AIDS crisis—and it worked. Twenty-six million lives have been saved, and 8 million babies were born HIV-free. Young people accessed life-saving medicine while maternal mortality declined. Africa's progress fighting HIV/AIDS has been revolutionary. At the macro level, several African countries have achieved significant breakthroughs by setting the standard for inclusive growth. Take Botswana: once among the world's poorest nations with the highest HIV rates, Botswana's GDP per capita surged from just over $500 in 1966 to over $6,800 by 2018 – one of the fastest economic growth rates globally. In the same period, life expectancy rose from 54 to 66 despite the devastating effects of HIV. Botswana even exceeded targets for ending the HIV/AIDS epidemic four years early. But this fight stands at a crossroads. Research published in the Lancet HIV last month warned that planned international aid cuts by the five largest donor countries could undo 25 years of progress at the stroke of a pen. In the worst case scenario, we could see 10.8 million additional HIV infections and 2.9 million more AIDS-related deaths by 2030—levels not seen since the early 2000s. We're seeing the human cost of these funding cuts firsthand through our own work. In KwaZulu-Natal, for instance, where approximately 1.9 million South Africans live with HIV, 20-year-old performing arts student Dalisu relied on a PEPFAR-supported community-based program for youth-friendly healthcare. (Name has been changed to protect privacy.) As funding cuts forced that program to suddenly shut down, his only option for treatment is now his university clinic. Fear of stigma and discrimination has caused him to miss appointments, putting him at risk of viral rebound. Without urgent intervention, Dalisu's health and future hang in the balance. Millions of young Africans now face similar challenges as vital support programs evaporate. Of course, being HIV-positive doesn't kill ambition. Many gifted people with access to treatment have built thriving careers. But imagine how many more success stories could emerge if fewer young people had to face this challenge in the first place. By continuing to tackle HIV at its root, we can unlock even greater potential, freeing individuals and communities from the burden it places on their health, education, and economies. African leaders themselves are committed to a clear pathway to sustainability and fully financing their healthcare, with a focus on life-saving medicines and delivery mechanisms. Countries like Angola have transitioned from support for medical commodities, while others, like Nigeria and Ghana, are filling gaps left by aid cuts. There are also significant opportunities to join forces across the continent to invest in local manufacturing and joint procurement of medicines, thereby unlocking the economic opportunities in the health economy. Enhancing the efficiency, effectiveness, and accountability of treatment delivery, investing in health care workers and infrastructure, leveraging advances in technology, and engaging the diaspora to invest in the ecosystem will expedite this transition to full self-sufficiency. Young Africans are ready to lead. They've shown what's possible when we invest in their health, education, and ideas. Now it's time for all of us—governments, philanthropists, and global citizens—to match that ambition. Our future depends on it.
Yahoo
18-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
A new HIV prevention drug could get FDA approval this year
Preventing HIV infections could soon be as simple as two shots a year. Gilead (GILD) announced on Tuesday that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted its new drug application for a twice-yearly injectable drug designed to prevent HIV. If approved, lenacapavir would be the first long-acting HIV-1 capsid inhibitor for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), a preventive treatment that lowers the risk of contracting HIV. The FDA has granted the application a priority review, setting a target decision date of June 19, 2025. The submission follows the agency's decision in October 2024 to grant lenacapavir Breakthrough Therapy Designation — a process aimed at speeding up the review of promising treatments for serious or life-threatening conditions. 'Today, we are one step closer to introducing the first-ever twice-yearly HIV prevention choice that could, if approved, help transform the landscape for individuals who need or want additional prevention options that better fit into their lives,' said Dietmar Berger, chief medical officer at Gilead, in a press release. 'We're excited about the potential of lenacapavir to make a real difference in HIV prevention in the U.S. and around the world, supporting the broader goal of ending the HIV epidemic for everyone, everywhere.' The application is based on results from two phase 3 trials. In one, lenacapavir showed a 100% reduction in HIV infections among cisgender women, with zero participants contracting the virus. In the other, there were only two infections in the lenacapavir group, but 99.9% of participants remained HIV-free — representing a 96% risk reduction among cisgender men and gender-diverse individuals across diverse geographic regions. The trials also found that lenacapavir was more effective at preventing HIV than Gilead's older drug, Truvada, a once-daily pill. Lenacapavir is already FDA-approved when used in combination with other antivirals for people with multi-drug resistant HIV. Gilead stock rose 2% during intraday trading on Tuesday following the news. The company's sales rose 6% to $28.8billion in 2024, Gilead reported last week. The were an estimated 31,800 new HIV infections in the U.S. in 2022, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
