As many global health fields reassess their reliance on US government funding for research and development, the STI field—already underfunded and reliant on alternate donors—now faces even greater uncertainty. In this newsletter, we share a new STI resource for advocates and highlight the top issues we’re monitoring as events continue to unfold.
STIWatch Quarterly Newsletter
March 2026
AVAC Infographics for CROI 2026
Going to CROI? AVAC’s up-to-date infographics — on the research & development pipeline, prevention options, and the impact of US funding cuts — are available here for use in conference presentations. We constantly update these graphics, so check back for updates. The latest version of the deck will be available here.
AVAC Year in Review 2025
2025 underscored the vital role that AVAC plays in the global health ecosystem, and why our work and our partnerships have never been more essential.
This report highlights AVAC’s role as a trusted voice, a translator of science and catalyst for action and advocacy. It reflects an organization ready for the future: supporting African leadership, strengthening bridges from R&D to delivery and preparing for a new chapter as we move forward into our fourth decade as an organization. Read the PDF below or view as a webpage.
An Overview of Lenacapavir for PrEP Trials
Lenacapavir Regulatory Approval
Regulatory approvals, pending decisions, and appeals as of February 2026. For product approvals, volumes, implementation, and price comparisons of long-acting PrEP, visit our dashboard on PrEPWatch.org.
Years Ahead in HIV Prevention Research: Time to Market
This timeline shows the potential time points when the next-generation of HIV prevention options might find their way into new programs.
HIV Vaccine Clinical Trials Pipeline
This graphic summarizes the state of HIV vaccine research, detailing the different immunological approaches in clinical trials, the specific candidates being studied, and the collaborative networks of funders and developers working toward an effective vaccine.
Speeding Up Access to PrEP
Time from efficacy results to key milestones
The timeline for hitting key milestones in product introduction is moving faster for injectable LEN than for any previous PrEP products, starting from the announcement of efficacy results in Phase III trials. LEN’s accelerated timeline compared to oral PrEP, DVR, and CAB reflects a field-wide effort to learn lessons from previous PrEP rollout and not repeat the mistakes of the past.
Change in PrEP Initiations from 2024 to 2025 in Five Countries
Between the period January-September 2024 to January-September 2025, PrEP initiations fell between 13% and 66% in selected high-volume PrEP countries where ministries of health (MoH) were able to provide data. Among the five countries depicted, four saw significant decline in PrEP uptake. All four relied on PEPFAR PrEP programs and were disrupted by stop work orders (SWO).
An “Innovation Pile-Up” in Next-Generation LA-PrEP is Possible
The HIV prevention market is headed toward a period of significant opportunity—and possible congestion—as a slate of new products are on track for continued development and potential introduction to the market in 2027 and 2028. Markets and policies must be built to support the products in the market already, so that new options can be rapidly deployed and deliver impact. Otherwise, the field will squander time and money, with epidemic control slipping further out of reach.