Top 5 Infectious Disease News Stories Week of April 5-12

National Youth HIV/AIDS Awareness Day Reminds Young People They Are Not Forgotten

April 10 marks National Youth HIV and AIDS Awareness Day (NYHAAD), a time to recognize the unique challenges young people face in HIV prevention and care. Youth aged 13–24 account for 20% of new HIV cases and are the least likely to know their status. Chelsea Gulden, President and CEO of RAIN, emphasizes the need for culturally responsive outreach and holistic support, particularly as federal HIV funding faces instability. RAIN, serving the Charlotte, NC area since 1992, provides wide-ranging services including testing, case management, and emergency assistance. With support from partners like ViiV Healthcare, the organization remains focused on community-driven efforts and tailoring care to the diverse needs within the youth population.

Atea Pharmaceuticals Doses First Patient in Phase 3 Trial for Chronic Hepatitis C

Atea Pharmaceuticals has initiated patient dosing in its phase 3 C-BEYOND trial in the US and Canada, testing a once-daily oral combination of bemnifosbuvir and ruzasvir for chronic hepatitis C (HCV) against the current standard therapy, sofosbuvir and velpatasvir. A companion global trial, C-FORWARD, is also underway. Both trials aim to enroll around 880 treatment-naïve patients and measure sustained virologic response at 12 weeks post-treatment (SVR12) as the primary endpoint. Phase 2 data showed a 97% SVR12 rate with the new regimen, which offers promising antiviral activity across HCV genotypes, a shorter treatment course, and strong tolerability.

Environmental Fungicides Drive Genetic Shifts in Candida tropicalis, Promoting Azole Resistance

A new study in PLOS Biology reveals that the agricultural fungicide tebuconazole (TBZ) drives genetic changes in Candida tropicalis, promoting the emergence of azole-resistant strains. Researchers found that TBZ exposure triggers ploidy plasticity, leading to the formation of haploid cells that exhibit cross-resistance to both agricultural and clinical azoles, such as fluconazole and voriconazole. Although these haploid strains grow more slowly and show reduced virulence, they retain key pathogenic traits and the potential to revert to diploidy. These findings, supported by earlier research detecting azole-resistant C tropicalis in Taiwanese orchards, underscore how environmental azole use contributes to antifungal resistance. The study highlights the urgent need to monitor and regulate azole fungicide use in agriculture to curb the evolution of drug-resistant fungal pathogens with implications for both human and environmental health.

FDA Grants Fast Track Status to ARCT-2304 for H5N1 Influenza Protection

The FDA has granted Fast Track Designation to ARCT-2304, a self-amplifying mRNA (sa-mRNA) vaccine candidate developed by Arcturus Therapeutics to protect against avian influenza A (H5N1). Known as LUNAR-H5N1, the vaccine is part of Arcturus’ proprietary STARR platform and is designed for rapid, scalable response to pandemic influenza threats. Currently in a Phase 1 clinical trial, ARCT-2304 is being tested in 200 healthy adults across the U.S. The vaccine's sa-mRNA technology enables in vivo mRNA amplification, allowing for lower doses and robust immune responses, while its lyophilized, refrigerator-stable formulation eases distribution. The Fast Track status will accelerate regulatory communication and review processes. Given the lack of approved H5N1 vaccines for the public and the CDC’s ongoing pandemic preparedness efforts, ARCT-2304 represents a promising advancement toward addressing a significant unmet medical need.

Study Finds Besifovir a Safer Alternative to Tenofovir for Long-Term Hepatitis B Treatment

A new study from Korea University College of Medicine shows that switching from tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) to besifovir (BSV) in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) maintains antiviral efficacy while significantly improving renal and bone safety. In the 48-week trial, 100% of patients on BSV and 98.5% on TDF achieved virologic response (HBV DNA <20 IU/mL), confirming BSV’s non-inferiority. Patients who switched to BSV saw better kidney function and increased bone mineral density, making it a potentially safer long-term treatment option. These findings mirror results from the CROI 2025 ALLIANCE study in HIV-HBV co-infected patients, supporting a broader shift away from TDF in favor of regimens that balance efficacy with improved safety profiles.