The BRILLIANT 011 HIV vaccine trial in South Africa has successfully restarted through alternative funding from the South African government and private foundations after being abruptly halted by U.S. aid cuts in 2025. While the trial aims to develop broadly neutralizing antibodies that can recognize various mutating strains of the virus, researchers warn that the year-long stoppage has severely disrupted training networks and slowed the regulatory process. Simultaneously, the rollout of lenacapavir, a twice-yearly preventative jab, offers a historic breakthrough in protection.
Date: March 2, 2026. Source: independent.co.uk