New innovations in HIV prevention could significantly reduce the number of new HIV cases worldwide, but US foreign aid cuts are hindering access to these medications, according to experts at the Aids 2026 Conference in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
One year ago, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended that governments prioritize expanded access to lenacapavir. This injectable version of the HIV prevention medication PrEP requires only two injections annually and is 99% effective in preventing sexually transmitted HIV when taken consistently.
The WHO noted that lenacapavir could be transformative for populations facing barriers to existing medications, such as those in poverty, experiencing stigma, or living in rural areas. A mathematical modeling study by the WHO and the United Nations estimated that widespread availability of lenacapavir could prevent 41% of new HIV infections in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and western Kenya.
However, the Trump administration was dissolving USAID in 2025, which had provided 73% of donor-funded resources for global HIV prevention. As of July 2026, reports indicate a dramatic decline in worldwide investment in HIV prevention.
Beatriz Grinsztejn, president of the International Aids Society, stated that these funding cuts are deeply affecting the delivery of new prevention technologies and reducing the number of people engaged in care and prevention services. Ailish Brennan, a policy analyst at Harm Reduction International, added that cuts have impacted peer outreach workers, who are crucial for reaching high-risk individuals and building trust.
Grinsztejn also noted that even before USAID's dissolution, much of Latin America was excluded from agreements with US-based pharmaceutical companies to make innovative HIV prevention more affordable. She expressed concern that achieving the UNAIDS goal of eliminating AIDS as a public health threat by 2030 will be challenging given the current scenario.