The 25th International AIDS Conference in Berlin brought groundbreaking news in the fight against HIV. A new HIV-prevention drug, requiring only two injections per year, has shown promising results in clinical trials, offering a significant advancement in global health efforts.
UNAIDS Regional Director on the Global Fight Against AIDS
Eamonn Murphy, UNAIDS Regional Director for Asia-Pacific, Eastern Europe, and Central Asia, highlighted this development in an exclusive interview with Xinhua. He emphasized the critical juncture in the global fight against AIDS, noting, “Some countries are on the right path and could achieve the elimination of HIV as a public health threat, but others are experiencing rising infections.”
Murphy commended the progress in treatment coverage, stating, “We’ve seen success with 77 percent of people on treatment today, compared to 47 percent in 2010.” Despite these advances, he expressed concern over rising infections in Latin America, Eastern Europe, and Central Asia. Between 2010 and 2023, these regions saw a 20 percent increase in new infections, with half of those needing treatment still not receiving it. “We’re alarmed and at a crossroads,” Murphy said.
Murphy attributed these setbacks to declining resources for AIDS prevention and treatment. “This is not only reflected in the shrinking of domestic resources; even international resources are no longer available for prevention in many of these areas,” he explained. He called on governments to ensure access to all prevention and treatment services and to help remove legal barriers that prevent people from accessing these services.
Emphasizing international cooperation, Murphy stressed the importance of sharing experiences and strategies among countries. “Strengthening cooperation among countries should not be limited to simple exchanges of information, but rather to creating a community of practice around innovation and change and jointly exploring new prevention and treatment methods and strategies,” he said.
The need to tailor prevention and treatment strategies
Murphy highlighted the need to tailor prevention and treatment strategies to local conditions, recognizing the differences between countries’ and regions’ needs. “Strategies should be flexibly adapted to the local context to ensure the effectiveness and relevance of measures,” he noted.
Murphy praised China’s achievements in AIDS prevention and control, stating, “China has set an example, and without its active participation, we will never be able to achieve the targets in the fight against AIDS in the Asia-Pacific region or even globally.” He acknowledged China’s commitment to promoting international exchanges and cooperation and sharing valuable experiences globally with its vast pharmaceutical capabilities. “China can assist manufacturers in optimizing production processes and reducing pharmaceutical costs, thus driving down the price of antiretroviral drugs and making HIV treatment affordable for more patients,” he added.
The announcement of the new HIV-prevention drug at the conference was a highlight. Murphy described this breakthrough as “a game changer” with great significance. “This will be much more effective than relying on people to take pills or other current protection methods,” he said.
The drug, currently costing over $40,000 a year, is expected to see a significant price drop to between $40 and $50 with large-scale production, improving its accessibility. “We must accelerate the process to ensure that this important drug reaches low- and middle-income countries where the burden of HIV is highest, and not leave it only in the richest countries,” Murphy concluded.
