Archive · 31 May 2025
US Cuts HIV Vaccine Research Funds, Raising Health Concerns
The US government is stopping funding for programs that work on finding an HIV vaccine and preventing the disease.
This includes a big research project and a trial by Moderna.
The CDC's program that gives money to states to fight HIV is also gone.
This happened right before the FDA will decide if a new drug to prevent HIV will be approved.
Even though things have gotten better, a lot of people still get HIV each year, especially gay and bisexual men and in the Southern US.
Experts worry these cuts will stop the progress made so far.
The US government cut funding for HIV vaccine research, including a $258 million initiative.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) paused a clinical trial of an HIV vaccine developed by Moderna.
The CDC's HIV prevention division, which funded state and territory programs, was shut down.
These cuts come shortly before a FDA decision on Gilead's lenacapavir, a twice-yearly injectable HIV prevention drug.
HIV continues to be a significant public health issue with around 31,800 new infections annually in the US.
- Who
- The US government, including the NIH and CDC, made the cuts.
- What
- The US government cut funding for HIV vaccine research and prevention programs.
- When
- The cuts were made recently, weeks before a FDA decision on Gilead's lenacapavir.
- Where
- The cuts impact HIV prevention and research efforts in the US.
- Why
- The reasons for the funding cuts are not explicitly stated in the article.
- Funding Cut
- $258 million initiative
- New Infections (2022)
- 31,800 annually
- Affected Group
- Gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men
- Infections via Heterosexual Contact
- 22%
- Location with Highest Cases
- Southern US (49% of cases in 2022)