The executive director of UNAids anticipates a surge in HIV rates and a rise in AIDS-related deaths within the next four years due to significant cuts in US aid spending. These cuts, including the halt of Pepfar funding, are projected to lead to an additional 6 million HIV infections and 4 million deaths by 2029. The reduction in funding has already impacted prevention services, support services, and research initiatives. Byanyima emphasizes the need for international solidarity and debt and tax justice to address the crisis and challenges to the aid model.
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Lenacapavir, a twice-yearly HIV prevention injection, is poised for US launch this week, with regulatory approval expected June 19th. While estimated to cost around $25,000 annually, independent analysis suggests a production cost as low as $25 per year, raising concerns about potential exorbitant pricing. UNAIDS urges Gilead to prioritize affordability, emphasizing the drug’s potential to end the HIV pandemic, while Gilead cites research and development costs and global pricing considerations. Gilead has agreements for low-cost lenacapavir in 120 low-income countries, but significant access gaps remain.
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Halting U.S. funding for the global AIDS program could lead to a dramatic increase in new HIV infections— potentially reaching 8.7 million annually by 2029— and a tenfold rise in AIDS-related deaths. This drastic funding cut has already resulted in widespread job losses among healthcare workers in affected countries, severely hindering efforts to track and combat the epidemic. The resulting crisis threatens to reverse years of progress in reducing HIV infections and delays the potential to end the disease as a public health problem. UNAIDS urges the U.S. to reconsider its decision, highlighting the mutual benefits of continued support and the ethical implications of withdrawing crucial life-saving resources.
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John Q. Hosedrinker