Healio Infectious Diseases

Two new drugs give clinicians hope against gonorrhea The quest to contain gonorrhea has been a decades-long struggle, but there is hope on the horizon in the form of new medications, clinicians said.In December, the FDA approved the first two new antibiotics for gonorrhea in nearly 40 years: Blujepa (gepotidacin, GSK) and Nuzolvence (zoliflodacin, Innoviva Specialty Therapeutics). With these, clinicians look to take the upper hand on a pathogen —

🚨Armed with #gepotidacin and #zoliflodacin, clinicians now look to take the upper hand on #gonorrhea, which has ducked and dodged nearly every antibiotic used for treatment.

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Two new drugs give clinicians hope against gonorrhea The quest to contain gonorrhea has been a decades-long struggle, but there is hope on the horizon in the form of new medications, clinicians said.In December, the FDA approved the first two new antibiotics for gonorrhea in nearly 40 years: Blujepa (gepotidacin, GSK) and Nuzolvence (zoliflodacin, Innoviva Specialty Therapeutics). With these, clinicians look to take the upper hand on a pathogen —

‼️ The latest weapon to fend off #gonorrhea comes in the form of two new FDA-approved antibiotics. One physician warns not to use them “injudiciously.”

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Florida restricts access to HIV drugs for thousands The Florida Department of Health imposed an emergency rule on Sunday that could prevent thousands of lower-income or uninsured people from being able to pay for their HIV medication.The rule drastically cut funding and eligibility for the state’s AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP), impacting an estimated 16,000 residents, according to the HIV Medicine Association. The cuts were driven by a

‼️ #HIV advocate says a new Florida rule that restricts HIV medication “will threaten the lives of people with HIV.”

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Florida restricts access to HIV drugs for thousands The Florida Department of Health imposed an emergency rule on Sunday that could prevent thousands of lower-income or uninsured people from being able to pay for their HIV medication.The rule drastically cut funding and eligibility for the state’s AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP), impacting an estimated 16,000 residents, according to the HIV Medicine Association. The cuts were driven by a

🚨Prominent infectious disease expert calls #Florida slashing #HIV benefits to low-income residents “devastating.”

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Florida restricts access to HIV drugs for thousands The Florida Department of Health imposed an emergency rule on Sunday that could prevent thousands of lower-income or uninsured people from being able to pay for their HIV medication.The rule drastically cut funding and eligibility for the state’s AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP), impacting an estimated 16,000 residents, according to the HIV Medicine Association. The cuts were driven by a

🚨New #Florida rule restricts #HIV medication access and could lead to 4,312 more HIV infections in five years, according to preliminary data.

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Study: RSV vaccination benefits moms with HIV and their babies DENVER — Maternal respiratory syncytial virus vaccination appeared to be safe and effective for mothers with HIV and their infants, according to data presented at the Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections.The study “did not identify any contraindications or safety concerns specific to pregnant people living with HIV,” Emily Wasserman, MD, director of clinical

💉 A phase 3 study dove into the safety and efficacy of Pfizer’s maternal #RSV vaccine among pregnant women with #HIV and their infants.

Data show the vaccine was effective at boosting #antibodies in mom and baby with no new safety concerns.

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#CROI2026

Pritelivir shows promise against HSV in immunocompromised patients DENVER — Pritelivir, an investigational antiviral drug for herpes simplex virus, demonstrated “superior efficacy” in healing lesions in immunocompromised patients, according to results of a phase 3 trial.The study, which included 101 immunocompromised participants with refractory or resistant HSV, showed that 62.7% of patients taking pritelivir (Aicuris) experienced lesion

💬 Pritelivir would be “the first oral antiviral against herpes infection since the discovery of acyclovir in the 1980s.” - Jean-Michel Molina, MD, PhD, told Healio. #CROI2026

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Studies support single-tablet HIV regimen vs. common, complex regimens DENVER — Data from two studies presented at the Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections support the use of a novel, single-tablet HIV regimen vs. standard, more complex treatment options.Researchers presented data from two phase 3 trials:

🚨Researchers presented data at #CROI that showed a single-tablet combination bictegravir and lenacapavir was comparable to complex, antiretroviral regimens for adults with HIV who are virologically suppressed.

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Pritelivir shows promise against HSV in immunocompromised patients DENVER — Pritelivir, an investigational antiviral drug for herpes simplex virus, demonstrated “superior efficacy” in healing lesions in immunocompromised patients, according to results of a phase 3 trial.The study, which included 101 immunocompromised participants with refractory or resistant HSV, showed that 62.7% of patients taking pritelivir (Aicuris) experienced lesion

Based on positive phase 3 results, Aicuris said it expects to file with the FDA in 2026 Q1.

Results from the trial presented at #CROI2026. ⬇️

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Studies support single-tablet HIV regimen vs. common, complex regimens DENVER — Data from two studies presented at the Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections support the use of a novel, single-tablet HIV regimen vs. standard, more complex treatment options.Researchers presented data from two phase 3 trials:

📣Data from the ARTISTRY-1 and ARTISTRY-2 trials presented at #CROI2026 showed that a single-tablet regimen was comparable to standard, complex regimens for #HIV treatment.
Read more below ⬇

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Pritelivir shows promise against HSV in immunocompromised patients DENVER — Pritelivir, an investigational antiviral drug for herpes simplex virus, demonstrated “superior efficacy” in healing lesions in immunocompromised patients, according to results of a phase 3 trial.The study, which included 101 immunocompromised participants with refractory or resistant HSV, showed that 62.7% of patients taking pritelivir (Aicuris) experienced lesion

At #CROI2026:

Investigational herpes drug pritelivir showed “superior efficacy” in phase 3 trial:

➡️ 62.7% of immunocompromised patients experienced lesion healing compared with 34% in control group.

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Data presented at #CROI2026 show that maternal RSV vaccination was safe and effective for both mothers with HIV and their infants.

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New HIV infections would soar if Ryan White program went away DENVER — Melissa Schnure, PhD, wants to make sure some of the country’s most vulnerable patients are protected — low-income people living with HIV who depend on federally funded HIV services.It is why Schnure, a senior epidemiologist at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, and her team spent countless hours with other researchers conducting a simulation study that

💬“To my patients who get Ryan White services, it is absolutely critical to them controlling their HIV,” Todd Fojo, MD, MHS, @HopkinsMedicine, told Healio. #CROI2026

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New HIV infections would soar if Ryan White program went away DENVER — Melissa Schnure, PhD, wants to make sure some of the country’s most vulnerable patients are protected — low-income people living with HIV who depend on federally funded HIV services.It is why Schnure, a senior epidemiologist at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, and her team spent countless hours with other researchers conducting a simulation study that

Presented at #CROI2026 📣: #HIV infections would increase 📈 by 73% if the #RyanWhite HIV/AIDS Program ended.

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Very early ART may help children control HIV without treatment DENVER — One-third of children with HIV who received very early ART had no detectable virus in their body for at least 12 weeks after stopping treatment, according to study findings.It was another sign that children initiating HIV treatment at a very early age may later be able to control the virus without it, researchers said.

🦠 Nearly one-third of children with HIV who started very early ART achieved virologic suppression for 12 weeks after stopping treatment.

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#CROI2026

SNAP improves adherence to HIV treatment, study shows DENVER — Researchers here presented what they said is the first evidence demonstrating that benefits paid through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, can improve a person’s adherence to HIV medication.The findings are timely, coming as new federal legislation is about to make it harder for people to qualify for SNAP benefits, which many people with HIV rely on.

❗A study showed that HIV treatment adherence declined as SNAP benefits were depleted. #CROI2026

Read ⬇️

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Hope for gonorrhea vaccine wanes after failed trial DENVER — In 2017, researchers in New Zealand published the first evidence that a vaccine might be able to prevent gonorrhea, a wily STI that has confounded scientists with it ability to dodge just abo...

🗣️ “I have been working on this beautiful bacteria for 20 years and I will not give up hope.” - Kate L. Seib, PhD

🗣️ “I think we have to try to design a better vaccine.” - Jean-Michel Molina, MD, PhD

Bummer results from #CROI2026 👇🏻

www.healio.com/news/infecti...

New HIV infections would soar if Ryan White program went away DENVER — Melissa Schnure, PhD, wants to make sure some of the country’s most vulnerable patients are protected — low-income people living with HIV who depend on federally funded HIV services.It is why Schnure, a senior epidemiologist at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, and her team spent countless hours with other researchers conducting a simulation study that

A simulated study presented at #CROI2026 shows the “critical” importance of the #RyanWhite HIV/AIDS Program.
Healio spoke with two of the study authors to learn more. ⬇️

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Q&A: Researchers create system to engineer synthetic phages Researchers from New England Biolabs and Yale University have created a system for engineering the first fully synthetic bacteriophages that could help with future clinical development of phage therapies.Bacteriophages, also referred to as phages, are naturally occurring viruses that “selectively target and kill bacteria” without infecting human cells, according to WHO. They can be found

❗Researchers from New England Biolabs &Yale University have created a system for engineering the first fully synthetic bacteriophages that could help with future clinical development of phage therapies. Q&A here... ⬇️

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SNAP improves adherence to HIV treatment, study shows DENVER — Researchers here presented what they said is the first evidence demonstrating that benefits paid through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, can improve a person’s adherence to HIV medication.The findings are timely, coming as new federal legislation is about to make it harder for people to qualify for SNAP benefits, which many people with HIV rely on.

New legislation will make it harder for people to qualify for SNAP benefits, which could negatively impact adherence to HIV medication, researchers reported at #CROI2026.

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Very early ART may help children control HIV without treatment DENVER — One-third of children with HIV who received very early ART had no detectable virus in their body for at least 12 weeks after stopping treatment, according to study findings.It was another sign that children initiating HIV treatment at a very early age may later be able to control the virus without it, researchers said.

At #CROI2026, Dr. Gabriela Cromhout shared the cases of 6 children with HIV whose viral loads remained undetectable for at least 12 weeks after ART interruption.

“This reinforces the idea that children are at a higher potential to be cured of HIV than adults,” she said.

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SNAP improves adherence to HIV treatment, study shows DENVER — Researchers here presented what they said is the first evidence demonstrating that benefits paid through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, can improve a person’s adherence to HIV medication.The findings are timely, coming as new federal legislation is about to make it harder for people to qualify for SNAP benefits, which many people with HIV rely on.

🚨Researchers at CROI 2026 presented the first evidence that SNAP benefits can increase adherence to #HIV medication.

Details from Denver ⬇

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SNAP improves adherence to HIV treatment, study shows DENVER — Researchers here presented what they said is the first evidence demonstrating that benefits paid through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, can improve a person&rsq...

🍎 Researchers at #CROI2026 presented the first evidence that SNAP benefits can increase adherence to HIV treatment.

Presented by: @draaron.bsky.social

Comments from: @jenkatesdc.bsky.social

Details from Denver ⬇

#HIVSky #IDSky

www.healio.com/news/infecti...

Q&A: Researchers create system to engineer synthetic phages Researchers from New England Biolabs and Yale University have created a system for engineering the first fully synthetic bacteriophages that could help with future clinical development of phage therapies.Bacteriophages, also referred to as phages, are naturally occurring viruses that “selectively target and kill bacteria” without infecting human cells, according to WHO. They can be found

🚨Q&A: Researchers create system to engineer synthetic phages... Details here ⬇️

vist.ly/4snvv

Q&A: Researchers create system to engineer synthetic phages Researchers from New England Biolabs and Yale University have created a system for engineering the first fully synthetic bacteriophages that could help with future clinical development of phage therapies.Bacteriophages, also referred to as phages, are naturally occurring viruses that “selectively target and kill bacteria” without infecting human cells, according to WHO. They can be found

❓Could synthetic #bacteriophages be the future of phage therapy?
Researchers at New England Biolabs have have created a system for engineering synthetic phages & created phages meant to target P. aeruginosa.
We spoke with Greg Lohman, PhD, to answer our questions.



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Always nice to see the Big Blue Bear.

We're at #CROI2026 in Denver, covering the latest research in HIV, STIs and more.

Check out our coverage this coming week and beyond at the link below 👇🏻

#IDSky #HIVSky #MedSky

www.healio.com/news/infecti...

Guinea worm nears eradication, Carter Center says Only 10 human cases of Guinea worm disease were reported worldwide in 2025 — the lowest number ever recorded.The Carter Center announced the historic data just after the 1-year anniversary of former President Jimmy Carter’s passing. The center, named for Carter and his wife Rosalynn, took over the global Guinea worm eradication effort in 1986, when there were approximately 3.5 million cases

🚨Only 10 human cases of Guinea worm disease were reported worldwide in 2025 — the lowest number ever recorded. Read ⬇️

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Guinea worm nears eradication, Carter Center says Only 10 human cases of Guinea worm disease were reported worldwide in 2025 — the lowest number ever recorded.The Carter Center announced the historic data just after the 1-year anniversary of former President Jimmy Carter’s passing. The center, named for Carter and his wife Rosalynn, took over the global Guinea worm eradication effort in 1986, when there were approximately 3.5 million cases

❗#GuineaWorm is on track to be the second eradicated human disease —second only to smallpox — with just 10 human cases reported globally in 2025.

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Meeting of CDC vaccine advisors is called off A 3-day meeting of the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices that was scheduled for next week has been called off, HHS confirmed to Healio on Thursday.HHS spokesperson Andrew Nixon said additional details will be shared as they become available.

🚨CDC's ACIP meeting called off with no makeup date announced. Details ⬇️

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White House picks NIH director Bhattacharya to run CDC for now NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya, MD, PhD, has been picked to also serve as acting director of the CDC, a White House official confirmed to Healio.Bhattacharya will oversee both agencies until a permanent CDC director is nominated and confirmed, the official said. Jim O’Neill, who served as acting CDC director for 5-plus months until last Friday, will be nominated to be the next head of the

🚨A former CDC official voiced concern about the White House naming NIH director Jay Bhattacharya, MD, PhD, to also oversee the CDC as acting director. See her comments in the story below ⬇