Bill Gates, the founder of Microsoft and one of the world’s wealthiest individuals, also has a philanthropic side, having established
the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation with his ex-wife Melinda Gates and announcing that they will donate most of their entire fortune by 2045. In his YouTube channel, Gates introduced ‘two innovative technologies’ that could help end Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) .
The end of AIDS is closer than ever – YouTube
AIDS is a disease caused by a weakened immune system resulting from infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) . In the past, there was no effective treatment, and in many cases, it was fatal. However, in recent years, as Bill Gates has stated, ‘The world has made remarkable progress in the fight against HIV,’ and efforts to combat AIDS have advanced significantly.
Gates stated, ‘Thanks to initiatives that have received substantial funding from the United States, such as the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), HIV is no longer a death sentence.’
However, the threat of HIV is far from gone. While the number of deaths from HIV has decreased by 57% since 1990, it remains a global epidemic.
As of the time of writing, 40 million people are living with HIV, and more than 1.2 million of them live in the United States.
Gates claims there are two groundbreaking technologies that could help end AIDS.
One example is a vaccine that provides protection from HIV infection for six months.
Renacapavir (Yeztugo) , developed by Gilead Sciences, a major pharmaceutical company headquartered in California, USA, is said to prevent infection even if exposed to HIV, if injected twice a year.
As of the time of writing, the cost has dropped from $28,000 (approximately 4.55 million yen) per year to $40 (approximately 6,500 yen), making it affordable for many people.
And the second is the acquisition of the ‘ability to cure people infected with HIV.’
Scientists have developed a technique to make certain blood cells resistant to HIV, preventing HIV from entering those cells.
This technology reportedly allows people who are already infected with HIV to suppress the onset of the disease for life without taking any medication.
Gates argued, ‘If we can make this technology a reality at a very low cost, we can deliver it to people all over the world, including Africa, where the outbreak is most severe.’
‘This is revolutionary,’ Gates said.
