US Withdraws $46M HIV Research Aid, Halts South Africa Vaccine Trials

Just a week before clinical trials for an HIV vaccine were set to begin in South Africa, the Trump administration abruptly withdrew $46 million in U.S. funding, halting the BRILLIANT research project and forcing layoffs of thousands of health workers. South Africa, which has the highest HIV prevalence globally and has been instrumental in HIV and COVID-19 vaccine research, now faces significant challenges as the U.S. also cut about $400 million annually via USAID and PEPFAR. Experts warn that these funding cuts threaten ongoing HIV research capabilities and could lead to increased infections and reduced access to life-saving medications. Meanwhile, the World Health Organization has recommended the newly FDA-approved twice-yearly HIV prevention injection, lenacapavir, as a critical tool in fighting HIV, emphasizing its efficacy demonstrated in trials involving young South Africans. Despite this medical advancement, South African researchers and health workers face uncertainty and financial instability due to the sudden loss of U.S. support, with the government struggling to find alternative funding sources. The cuts highlight a broader retreat of U.S. foreign aid under President Trump’s administration, undermining global efforts to combat HIV/AIDS in regions most affected by the pandemic.