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On Wednesday, the FDA approved a new injectable medication designed to significantly reduce HIV transmission. Manufactured by Gilead Sciences, the drug is called lenacapavir and will be marketed as Yeztugo.

Gilead’s CEO described the approval as a milestone in HIV prevention, emphasizing that Yeztugo provides a promising scientific advance with the potential to aid in ending the HIV epidemic. Clinical studies have demonstrated its remarkable effectiveness as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), preventing infection in nearly all participants—100% in one trial and 99.9% in another.

However, this breakthrough coincides with concerning cuts to global AIDS initiatives initiated by the current U.S. administration, including severe reductions in funding and program support. Efforts such as USAID’s global health programs and PEPFAR, which has saved millions of lives, have faced significant setbacks. Notably, the MATRIX study—focused on new prevention methods for women—was abruptly halted due to policy changes, raising ethical concerns and hindering further research.

Experts warn that these reductions threaten to undermine decades of progress in HIV prevention. They highlight that abandoning innovative treatments and international aid not only hampers global health efforts but also diminishes the U.S.’s leadership and influence in disease control.

As one health advocate noted, the world is on the verge of delivering its most effective HIV prevention tools yet, but recent policies threaten to derail this progress just when it’s most needed.