13th IAS Conference on HIV Science, held from 13 to 17 July 2025, brought together approximately 4,000 researchers, clinicians, activists, and policymakers. The event displayed both unprecedented scientific optimism and an existential threat to the global HIV response.

Funding Crisis: An Existential Threat

A central focus of the conference was the global funding crisis triggered by the sharp reduction in international aid—particularly from the U.S.—in early 2025. This crisis exposed the structural fragility of a global response that for decades had relied heavily on a single major donor (PEPFAR). The UNAIDS Global AIDS Update 2025 report warned that without restored funding, the world could see an additional 6 million new HIV infections and 4 million AIDS-related deaths by 2029.

Prevention Revolution: The Era of Long‑acting Agents

Despite alarming financial news, the scientific program at IAS 2025 revealed striking breakthroughs. Paradoxically, during the period of greatest resource shortages, the most powerful tools to combat HIV emerged:

• Lenacapavir (LEN): A biannual injection that was the highlight of the conference. Results from PURPOSE 1 and 2 showed near-100% efficacy in preventing HIV. The WHO quickly issued recommendations, and notably, the trials were the first to deliberately include pregnant and breastfeeding women, providing vital safety data.
• Cabotegravir (CAB‑LA): A bimonthly injection whose effectiveness and acceptability were confirmed outside clinical trials. Implementation studies in the U.S. and Zambia demonstrated successful integration of injectable PrEP into community-based programs, particularly for key populations.
• Monthly Oral PrEP (MK-8527): Promising phase 2 data were presented for this monthly oral agent, which is now advancing to phase 3 trials—potentially the first of its kind.

Progress in Treatment and Innovative Service Models

• Long‑acting Treatment (CAB+RPV LA): Real‑world data from CARLOS, BEYOND, and COMBINE‑2 showed high effectiveness and patient satisfaction with bimonthly injections, which many preferred over daily pills—indicating a significant improvement in quality of life.
• Differentiated Service Delivery (DSD): Experts emphasized this patient‑centered approach, stressing its expansion beyond HIV care into other chronic diseases to improve health system efficiency under constrained resources.  

HIV Cure and Vaccine Research: Long‑Term Goals

• Curative Research: A breakthrough laboratory study demonstrated that engineered T‑cells targeting HIV via HLA‑E significantly reduced viral reservoirs in mice—potentially paving the way for universal immunotherapy. The formation of the Africa Cure Consortium was also announced, aiming to amplify African leadership in cure research.
• Vaccine Development: The conference highlighted the central role of African science in vaccine efforts and discussed the use of artificial intelligence to accelerate vaccine development.

African Leadership, Human Rights, and Community Voice

• The Rwandan Model: As the host country, Rwanda was showcased for reaching the 95‑95‑95 targets through strong political leadership, community engagement, data-driven strategies, and integrated services. Its model demonstrates that national responsibility is essential for resilience.
• “We will not be erased”: Under this banner, activists expressed “collective anger” over cuts in funding and political attacks targeting key populations. They stressed that closing community-led clinics under the guise of “integration” is actually a denial of access to safe services—and urged the scientific community to stand firm in defense of human rights.

IAS 2025 underscored the urgent need to balance scientific innovation with sustainable funding, human rights protection, and community-led solutions as the global response moves toward AIDS 2026 and beyond.