8 Best Neck Firming Creams To Use in Australia in 2025
Doomscrolling on our phones is not just taking a toll on our minds but it's quietly wreaking havoc on our appearance too.
These products are hand-picked by our team to help make shopping easier. We may receive payments from third parties for sharing this content and when you purchase through links in this article. Product prices and offer details are not assured, and should be confirmed independently with the retailer. Learn more
Turns out constantly staring at our phones – aka doomscrolling – is not only bad for our minds but also taking a toll on our physical appearance too.
Ever heard of the term 'tech neck'? Well now, you'll never forget it now.
Caused by the forward tilt of your head while continuously looking down at phone and computer screens, 'tech neck' leads to fine lines and creases across the neck that can be very annoying to get rid of.
And no, this isn't about ageing (which, by the way, is a privilege). But if you're looking to soften the appearance of those neck lines, we've rounded up a list of top-rated neck creams that are getting serious buzz.
Keep scrolling for our roundup of the most popular, most-reviewed neck creams you can get your hands on right now – including one from Trinny London that's the beauty entrepreneur's secret to a smoother and firmer neck.
OUR TOP PICKS
The Elevator, $128 at Trinny London
Trinny London The Elevator Neck Cream
Why we love it: It's a highly advanced formula to really target the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles on the delicate neck area.
What to consider: High price tag.
What You Need To Know
The best-selling neck cream from Trinny London is formulated with encapsulated alpha arbutin and a bunch of supercharged peptides to deeply hydrate the skin, brighten its appearance, and visibly soften fine lines for a smoother, plumper-looking neck.
But why does the neck show signs of ageing differently than the face?
We got to hear from Trinny London herself. 'It's because we have fewer things that support it to look younger. Our necks don't have as much fat underneath, which would normally make the skin look plumper. Our neck also doesn't have many sebaceous glands, which means it never gets oily and oiliness can be really good for skin to give it extra hydration,' she explained.
$96 at Adore Beauty
Why we love it: It's a rich, luxurious and creamy texture that feels great to put on.
What to consider: High price tag.
What You Need To Know
Ideal for those with mature, delicate and/or sun damaged skin, the Ella Bache Firming Neck Cream is a super rich treatment that's designed to really hydrate the skin.
It's formulated with a multi-active ingredient called Fabanine, which is a soy plant extract. After continued use, expect to see a more radiant neck area.
Five-star rating Adore Beauty shoppers have said this is a 'very hydrating and rich cream'.
'It has a very luxurious feel when patting in to neck and upper chest area. Wouldn't be without it,' said another happy user.
Why we love it: Universally loved by shoppers for its smooth texture and its results.
What to consider: High price tag.
What You Need To Know
One of Clarins' bestsellers has to be the Super Restorative Decollete and Neck Concentrate. It's packed with skin-loving ingredients like Harungana – something that's unique to the French beauty brand – to really replenish the delicate neck area and make it look more youthful and radiant.
It's racked up a very impressive average rating of 4.9 out of five on the Myer website, with rave reviews from shoppers noting it 'makes a visible difference in a short time'.
'It is a fantastic neck cream that is quickly absorbed and non-greasy,' said another five-star rating customer.
Natio Replenishing Neck and Decolettage Cream
$22.95 at Myer
Why we love it: Super budget-friendly option.
What to consider: May not feel as premium as other neck creams on our list.
What You Need To Know
You don't have to break the bank to get real results from a hardworking neck cream. This one from Natio will cost you under $25 and rave reviews from five-star rating Myer shoppers call it a 'miracle cream', praising it as an 'affordable product that gives results'.
Formulated with collagen-boosting plant peptides and antioxidant-rich bearberry extract, it works to even out skin tone, boost hydration, and leave the neck feeling noticeably softer and smoother.
Why we love it: Over time, this night cream will improve overall radiance of your face and neck.
What to consider: May be too powerful for super sensitive skin types.
What You Need To Know
If you're looking for an overall hardworking night cream that you can use on your face and your neck, this one from RoC Skincare is our top pick.
The formula is led by the ingredient that's had over seven years of research – the Hexyl-R complex – to really help you wake up with a totally renewed and radiant complexion.
Five-star rating iHerb shoppers say this cream 'works really well' and noting it makes a 'big difference' to the overall look of their skin.
Why we love it: This is double-duty day cream for your face and neck.
What to consider: Not suitable to be used at night time.
What You Need To Know
For those of us who want to really simplify our skincare routine, this day cream from No7 is a fabulous option as it combines the function of a cream for your face and neck in one.
Rave reviews from Priceline shoppers say their 'skin feels so much softer and looks brighter both on my face and neck.'
Another five-star reviewer said this is the 'best ever day cream'.
The formula is packed with ginseng extract to revitalise the skin, while antioxidants, peptides and vitamins help to protect the skin.
Finally a hydrating blend of Hibiscus peptides, hyaluronic acid and the brand's signature anti-wrinkle peptide technology is added to really hydrate the skin and help give it a visible glow.
$64 at Adore Beauty
Why we love it: Double-duty product to work for the delicate eye and neck area.
What to consider: High price tag for a small amount of product.
What You Need To Know
Adore Beauty shoppers say this double-duty cream from Skinstitut really works well to give you 'smooth and radiant' skin.
It's formulated with peptides and marine collagen to increase hydration and improve the overall tone and texture of the delicate skin around your eyes and neck.
The beauty brand have also added green coffee extract, avocado oil, aloe vera and ginseng to nourish the skin and give you a more glowy complexion.
The Jojoba Company Neck & Decolletage Lifting Concentrate
$64.95 at Adore Beauty
Why we love it: Offers more of a serum-feel that's super lightweight on the skin.
What to consider: Not a creamy texture like the other options on our list.
Formula: Serum | Size: 30ml | Key ingredient: Powerful botanicals
What You Need To Know
If you're looking for a lightweight treatment that feels more like a serum, rather than a cream, this pick from The Jojoba Company is a standout.
The Neck & Décolletage Lifting Concentrate offers an advanced formula to help boost collagen, replenish and hydrate the skin, and really help encourage a more youthful appearance.
The formula features ingredients specific to Australian beauty brand – Col-Frag 4, Gravityl and Liftylox – which all help to smooth the skin and improve overall radiance.
When choosing neck creams to include in our list, we evaluated several factors:
Price: Neck firming creams can sit at different price points, so you can pay as little as $22.95, with more pricier options sitting at about $155.
Formula: If you want a neck cream to work, it needs to be packed with powerful ingredients – think peptides, retinol, antioxidants and more hydrating, skin-loving actives,
Your skin type: Your skin type can determine what sort of skincare you should use – if you have dry skin, looking for extra hydrating ingredients. For those with sensitive skin, you're going to want to be careful with how many active products you load onto your skin. The skin on our neck can also be more delicate compared to the rest of our face.
HOW WE CHOOSE PRODUCTS
Our team of experienced writers spend hours researching products to include in articles. We find out what factors make a good product by talking to experts, reviewing test results and analysing thousands of customer reviews.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
WHAT ELSE CAN YOU DO TO FIX TECH NECK?
Besides investing in a neck cream, if you want to keep a smooth and more youthful looking appearance, you're going to want to be applying an SPF every single morning.
The sun's UV rays contribute to all signs of ageing, so keeping your skin protected is key.
Another obvious point is not be on your phone as much – which we know, is not an easy task. Try and take regular breaks, and ensure you maintain good posture while scrolling and having fun with your friends.
WHAT'S THE BEST WAY TO APPLY A NECK CREAM?
For the best results, you should apply your neck cream everyday – think of it as an extension to the rest of your face. Make sure you always follow up with an SPF to keep your skin protected – you can see our roundup of the best ones for your face here.
Sign up to our weekly shopping newsletter to get the best deals, tips and guides delivered straight to your inbox.
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Daily Telegraph
4 hours ago
- Daily Telegraph
RFK Jr. vaccine advisory panel votes against thimerosal in flu vaccines
Don't miss out on the headlines from Illness. Followed categories will be added to My News. An influential vaccine advisory panel made up of allies of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has voted to recommend against the use of flu vaccines containing thimerosal, a commonly used, mercury-based preservative that has long been a target of anti-vaccination groups. Health experts, including one voting member on the committee, have warned that the move could restrict access to multi-dose flu shots, exposing people to deadly influenza to mitigate the 'non-existent' health risks of thimerosal. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), a panel of outside experts that makes recommendations on vaccinations to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and plays a key role in determining immunisation schedules, voted in favour of the motion. It recommended that 'all adults receive seasonal influenza vaccines only in single-dose formulations that are free of thimerosal as a preservative' at its meeting in Atlanta, Georgia on Thursday. The vote passed with five yes votes, one no vote and one abstention. 'My concern is that by insisting the multi-dose vials [do not] contain thimerosal, that might limit the availability of the influenza vaccine for some people,' said Dr Cody Meissner, professor of pediatrics at Dartmouth's Geisel School of Medicine and the lone no vote. 'I would like to have that question answered but it's probably a difficult one to answer. My point is the risk from influenza is so much greater than the non-existent, as far as we know, risk from thimerosal. So I would hate for a person not to receive the influenza vaccine because the only available preparation contains thimerosal. I find that very hard to justify.' US Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Picture:/AFP RFK Jr., Donald Trump's Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary and a long-time vaccine sceptic, earlier this month fired the entire 17-member ACIP panel, all of whom were appointed under former President Joe Biden. Mr Kennedy claimed in a Wall Street Journal op-ed that the ousted panel was 'plagued with persistent conflicts of interest' and had become 'little more than a rubber stamp for any vaccine'. 'Today we are prioritising the restoration of public trust above any specific pro- or anti-vaccine agenda,' he said in a HHS press release announcing the decision. 'The public must know that unbiased science — evaluated through a transparent process and insulated from conflicts of interest — guides the recommendations of our health agencies.' Mr Kennedy subsequently appointed eight new members to the panel, all of whom were ideological allies and prominent vaccine critics. They include Dr Robert Malone, an early researcher of mRNA technology who vocally opposed the Covid vaccines, and Dr Martin Kulldorff, a Swedish epidemiologist and biostatistician who criticised lockdown and social distancing policies, co-authoring the October 2020 'Great Barrington Declaration' with Oxford professor Dr Sunetra Gupta and Stanford professor Dr Jay Bhattacharya, who is now the director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This week's regular two-day ACIP meeting, which had been set to vote on the safety of flu vaccines and discuss proposed recommendations for the use of the combined MMRV vaccine for children under five, was updated to include a presentation on thimerosal by Lyn Redwood, a nurse practitioner and former president of Children's Health Defense, the anti-vaccination group founded by Mr Kennedy. ACIP members Dr Cody Meissner, left, and Vicky Pebsworth speak on screen. Picture: Mike Stewart/AP Prior to the meeting, a slide contained in the presentation purporting to show thimerosal can have 'long-term consequences in the brain' was discovered to reference a non-existent study. Thimerosal, which is used in about 5 per cent of multi-dose flu vaccines, is a mercury-based preservative that has been in use for decades. It contains ethylmercury, which is cleared from the human body more quickly than methylmercury — the type of mercury found in certain kinds of fish that can be toxic to people at high exposure levels — and is therefore less likely to cause any harm. 'There is no evidence of harm caused by the low doses of thimerosal in vaccines, except for minor reactions like redness and swelling at the injection site,' a fact sheet on the CDC website states. 'In July 1999, the Public Health Service agencies, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and vaccine manufacturers agreed that thimerosal should be reduced or eliminated in vaccines as a precautionary measure.' Dr Kulldorf, the new ACIP chair, said after Ms Redwood's presentation that mercury toxicity was a 'cumulative issue' and 'we should try to minimise exposure'. 'Let's say a child is exposed to mercury from 10 different sources,' he said. 'Each of those 10 sources might be small enough, that source in itself is not dangerous, but if you then put all 10 together then it might be dangerous.' Secondly, he noted 'there are alternatives, and in fact most of the influenza vaccines given today do not contain thimerosal, so it's very feasible to not use thimerosal-containing vaccines … we don't really need it'. Thimerosal is a mercury-based preservative used in some multi-dose flu vials. Picture: David Goldman/AP Dr Kulldorf added that 'if we put mercury in a product people are not going to want to buy' it. 'So if we want to promote people taking vaccines we should remove these mercury-containing preservatives,' he said. Dr Meissner said he was 'not quite sure how to respond to this presentation'. 'This is an old issue that has been addressed in the past,' he said. 'Of all the issues I think ACIP needs to focus on, this is not a big issue. I will also hasten to add that thimerosal is included in most vaccines that are administered around the globe. 'That is because single-dose vials are more expensive and many countries cannot afford a single-dose vial. I realise ACIP is focused on the United States, but the recommendations that the ACIP makes are followed among many countries around the world, and removing thimerosal from all vaccines that are used in other countries, for example, is going to reduce access to these vaccines, it will increase cost.' Dr Meissner stressed 'it's important to note that no study has ever indicated any harm from thimerosal'. 'It's been used in vaccines since before World War II,' he said. 'The decision by the FDA to remove thimerosal as much as possible is a very reasonable recommendation, but this recommendation was made not because there was any evidence of harm from thimerosal. It was made in an effort to reduce the total exposure to mercury in our environment. That's a reasonable objective. But you also have to consider what are the consequences of these sorts of recommendations.' Demonstrators rally outside the ACIP meeting in Atlanta, Georgia. Picture: Mike Stewart/AP Dr Joseph Hibbeln, a psychiatrist and neuroscientist with the National Institutes of Health (NIH), noted there was 'a significant benefit to the use of multi-dose vaccines instead of single-dose vaccines'. 'And apparently there is good data that other preservatives can be used, so I hope that the committee will put on the agenda the consideration of multi-use vials … that have other, better preservatives,' he said. Dr Jason Goldman, president of the American College of Physicians (ACP), asked during the public comment section 'if we will have an actual scientific presentation with peer-reviewed literature, strong evidence to actually discuss this issue'. 'Many statements have been made here today without support of science or evidence but merely opinion,' he said. 'Will there be an actual CDC presentation done by staff, scientists, physicians and those who are subject matter experts with accurate, peer-reviewed scientific data or will we have layperson presentations only?' Responding to the criticisms, Dr Kulldorf said 'I think it's inappropriate to dismiss a presentation just because the person does not have a PhD or an MD'. 'There are a lot of knowledgeable people who we would like to hear from,' he said. Prior to the meeting, the panel was reduced to seven members with the withdrawal of Dr Michael Ross. HHS said in a statement Dr Ross withdrew 'during the financial holdings review required of members before they can start work on the committee', without providing further details. Dr Ross was described as a clinical professor of obstetrics and gynaecology at George Washington University and Virginia Commonwealth University, but US media reports suggested he had not worked at either school in years. More recently he was linked to private biotech and healthcare ventures. Originally published as RFK Jr. vaccine advisory panel votes against thimerosal in flu vaccines
News.com.au
8 hours ago
- News.com.au
8 Best Neck Firming Creams To Use in Australia in 2025
Doomscrolling on our phones is not just taking a toll on our minds but it's quietly wreaking havoc on our appearance too. These products are hand-picked by our team to help make shopping easier. We may receive payments from third parties for sharing this content and when you purchase through links in this article. Product prices and offer details are not assured, and should be confirmed independently with the retailer. Learn more Turns out constantly staring at our phones – aka doomscrolling – is not only bad for our minds but also taking a toll on our physical appearance too. Ever heard of the term 'tech neck'? Well now, you'll never forget it now. Caused by the forward tilt of your head while continuously looking down at phone and computer screens, 'tech neck' leads to fine lines and creases across the neck that can be very annoying to get rid of. And no, this isn't about ageing (which, by the way, is a privilege). But if you're looking to soften the appearance of those neck lines, we've rounded up a list of top-rated neck creams that are getting serious buzz. Keep scrolling for our roundup of the most popular, most-reviewed neck creams you can get your hands on right now – including one from Trinny London that's the beauty entrepreneur's secret to a smoother and firmer neck. OUR TOP PICKS The Elevator, $128 at Trinny London Trinny London The Elevator Neck Cream Why we love it: It's a highly advanced formula to really target the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles on the delicate neck area. What to consider: High price tag. What You Need To Know The best-selling neck cream from Trinny London is formulated with encapsulated alpha arbutin and a bunch of supercharged peptides to deeply hydrate the skin, brighten its appearance, and visibly soften fine lines for a smoother, plumper-looking neck. But why does the neck show signs of ageing differently than the face? We got to hear from Trinny London herself. 'It's because we have fewer things that support it to look younger. Our necks don't have as much fat underneath, which would normally make the skin look plumper. Our neck also doesn't have many sebaceous glands, which means it never gets oily and oiliness can be really good for skin to give it extra hydration,' she explained. $96 at Adore Beauty Why we love it: It's a rich, luxurious and creamy texture that feels great to put on. What to consider: High price tag. What You Need To Know Ideal for those with mature, delicate and/or sun damaged skin, the Ella Bache Firming Neck Cream is a super rich treatment that's designed to really hydrate the skin. It's formulated with a multi-active ingredient called Fabanine, which is a soy plant extract. After continued use, expect to see a more radiant neck area. Five-star rating Adore Beauty shoppers have said this is a 'very hydrating and rich cream'. 'It has a very luxurious feel when patting in to neck and upper chest area. Wouldn't be without it,' said another happy user. Why we love it: Universally loved by shoppers for its smooth texture and its results. What to consider: High price tag. What You Need To Know One of Clarins' bestsellers has to be the Super Restorative Decollete and Neck Concentrate. It's packed with skin-loving ingredients like Harungana – something that's unique to the French beauty brand – to really replenish the delicate neck area and make it look more youthful and radiant. It's racked up a very impressive average rating of 4.9 out of five on the Myer website, with rave reviews from shoppers noting it 'makes a visible difference in a short time'. 'It is a fantastic neck cream that is quickly absorbed and non-greasy,' said another five-star rating customer. Natio Replenishing Neck and Decolettage Cream $22.95 at Myer Why we love it: Super budget-friendly option. What to consider: May not feel as premium as other neck creams on our list. What You Need To Know You don't have to break the bank to get real results from a hardworking neck cream. This one from Natio will cost you under $25 and rave reviews from five-star rating Myer shoppers call it a 'miracle cream', praising it as an 'affordable product that gives results'. Formulated with collagen-boosting plant peptides and antioxidant-rich bearberry extract, it works to even out skin tone, boost hydration, and leave the neck feeling noticeably softer and smoother. Why we love it: Over time, this night cream will improve overall radiance of your face and neck. What to consider: May be too powerful for super sensitive skin types. What You Need To Know If you're looking for an overall hardworking night cream that you can use on your face and your neck, this one from RoC Skincare is our top pick. The formula is led by the ingredient that's had over seven years of research – the Hexyl-R complex – to really help you wake up with a totally renewed and radiant complexion. Five-star rating iHerb shoppers say this cream 'works really well' and noting it makes a 'big difference' to the overall look of their skin. Why we love it: This is double-duty day cream for your face and neck. What to consider: Not suitable to be used at night time. What You Need To Know For those of us who want to really simplify our skincare routine, this day cream from No7 is a fabulous option as it combines the function of a cream for your face and neck in one. Rave reviews from Priceline shoppers say their 'skin feels so much softer and looks brighter both on my face and neck.' Another five-star reviewer said this is the 'best ever day cream'. The formula is packed with ginseng extract to revitalise the skin, while antioxidants, peptides and vitamins help to protect the skin. Finally a hydrating blend of Hibiscus peptides, hyaluronic acid and the brand's signature anti-wrinkle peptide technology is added to really hydrate the skin and help give it a visible glow. $64 at Adore Beauty Why we love it: Double-duty product to work for the delicate eye and neck area. What to consider: High price tag for a small amount of product. What You Need To Know Adore Beauty shoppers say this double-duty cream from Skinstitut really works well to give you 'smooth and radiant' skin. It's formulated with peptides and marine collagen to increase hydration and improve the overall tone and texture of the delicate skin around your eyes and neck. The beauty brand have also added green coffee extract, avocado oil, aloe vera and ginseng to nourish the skin and give you a more glowy complexion. The Jojoba Company Neck & Decolletage Lifting Concentrate $64.95 at Adore Beauty Why we love it: Offers more of a serum-feel that's super lightweight on the skin. What to consider: Not a creamy texture like the other options on our list. Formula: Serum | Size: 30ml | Key ingredient: Powerful botanicals What You Need To Know If you're looking for a lightweight treatment that feels more like a serum, rather than a cream, this pick from The Jojoba Company is a standout. The Neck & Décolletage Lifting Concentrate offers an advanced formula to help boost collagen, replenish and hydrate the skin, and really help encourage a more youthful appearance. The formula features ingredients specific to Australian beauty brand – Col-Frag 4, Gravityl and Liftylox – which all help to smooth the skin and improve overall radiance. When choosing neck creams to include in our list, we evaluated several factors: Price: Neck firming creams can sit at different price points, so you can pay as little as $22.95, with more pricier options sitting at about $155. Formula: If you want a neck cream to work, it needs to be packed with powerful ingredients – think peptides, retinol, antioxidants and more hydrating, skin-loving actives, Your skin type: Your skin type can determine what sort of skincare you should use – if you have dry skin, looking for extra hydrating ingredients. For those with sensitive skin, you're going to want to be careful with how many active products you load onto your skin. The skin on our neck can also be more delicate compared to the rest of our face. HOW WE CHOOSE PRODUCTS Our team of experienced writers spend hours researching products to include in articles. We find out what factors make a good product by talking to experts, reviewing test results and analysing thousands of customer reviews. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS WHAT ELSE CAN YOU DO TO FIX TECH NECK? Besides investing in a neck cream, if you want to keep a smooth and more youthful looking appearance, you're going to want to be applying an SPF every single morning. The sun's UV rays contribute to all signs of ageing, so keeping your skin protected is key. Another obvious point is not be on your phone as much – which we know, is not an easy task. Try and take regular breaks, and ensure you maintain good posture while scrolling and having fun with your friends. WHAT'S THE BEST WAY TO APPLY A NECK CREAM? For the best results, you should apply your neck cream everyday – think of it as an extension to the rest of your face. Make sure you always follow up with an SPF to keep your skin protected – you can see our roundup of the best ones for your face here. Sign up to our weekly shopping newsletter to get the best deals, tips and guides delivered straight to your inbox.
ABC News
10 hours ago
- ABC News
Global HIV fight faces major setbacks amid funding and research cuts
Ambitions to end the global HIV epidemic as a public health threat by 2030 look increasingly out of reach as experts fear there could be an increase in new infections for the first time in decades. Concerns among scientists, health workers and community advocates have grown in recent months following billions of dollars in foreign aid and medical research being slashed by the US government. "It's almost like an existential crisis for the field," said Sharon Lewin, internationally renowned HIV researcher and director of the Doherty Institute in Melbourne. Globally, around 40 million people live with HIV, including 1.4 million children. Since 2010, new HIV infections have declined by almost 40 per cent but remain well short of global targets. Historically, the US government has provided almost three quarters of all international government assistance for HIV. But since Donald Trump took office in January, it has suspended much of its foreign aid program and dismantled the US Agency for International Development (USAID), in a move it says is aimed at ensuring all humanitarian assistance is aligned with its "America First" agenda. The Trump administration has also terminated almost 1,400 medical research grants, an estimated 30 per cent of which supported research into HIV/AIDS. Many of the scrapped studies focused on health equity, racial disparities, and sexual and gender minorities — research the administration said "prioritised ideological agendas over scientific rigour". One of the biggest blows to HIV research came last month when the US government terminated a $258 million research program that was developing a HIV vaccine — a decision Professor Lewin described as "devastating". "It was by far and away the largest investment in HIV vaccine research, and an extraordinarily successful group of researchers," she said. While there are highly effective drugs to prevent the transmission of HIV — known as pre-exposure prophylaxis or PrEP — they need to be taken regularly, which means prevention programs are "expensive" and "labour-intensive" to run, Professor Lewin said. "You've got to keep people on treatment, and keep monitoring them ... So a cheap and effective vaccine is still really needed." One of the biggest concerns among HIV experts is the disruption to and future uncertainty of the US president's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, better known as PEPFAR, said Australian Global Health Alliance executive director Selina Namchee Lo. The $7.5 billion program, established in 2003, funds a significant proportion of HIV prevention and treatment services in low- and middle-income countries, and is considered one of the most successful global health programs in history. "Since its initiation, PEPFAR has saved more than 26 million lives and supported more than 20 million people on HIV treatment. It's truly been a game changer," Dr Namchee Lo said. In January, the Trump administration froze all PEPFAR funding as part of a review into US foreign aid, before later issuing a waiver to allow "life-saving HIV services" to continue. The waiver, however, only permits funding for certain programs, including the prevention of mother-to-child transmission, but not HIV prevention among other at-risk groups. This includes men who have sex with men, transgender women, injecting drug users and sex workers, all of whom "are hugely over-represented in HIV statistics", said HIV researcher Andrew Grulich. According to UNAIDS, the suspension of US funding and dissolution of USAID, which delivered the majority of PEPFAR's programming, has caused disruptions to HIV services and the availability of life-saving medicines. "In some settings, it has led to people turning up [to health services] and being told 'you can't get your treatment this month, or you can only get one month at a time,'" Professor Grulich, head of the HIV epidemiology and prevention program at UNSW's Kirby Institute, said. The potential rationing of HIV antiretroviral treatment was "highly likely" to cause drug resistance, he said, and if people were to stop treatment altogether, they would become highly infectious "within a week or two". "They might remain relatively well for a year, or even five years, but in the absence of treatment, most people will go on to develop AIDS, and almost all of them will die." Researchers recently estimated that if PEPFAR was discontinued and international aid cuts proposed by four European countries went ahead, there could be almost 11 million additional infections by 2030, and 3 million AIDS-related deaths. While the future of PEPFAR remains unclear, the Trump administration has proposed cutting $1.9 billion from its budget in 2026. According to the US Department of State, this will allow the US "to accelerate the transition of HIV control programs to recipient countries and increase international ownership of efforts to fight HIV/AIDS". Professor Lewin said the plan for PETFAR "was always for it to be phased out" and for countries to sustain their own HIV programs, but that funding had instead been cut "very quickly". The US Congress has also been asked to revoke a further $8.3 billion in foreign aid, including $400 million for PEPFAR. In addition to the direct impact on people's lives, Professor Lewin said aid cuts — as well as a recent directive that restricts US scientists from distributing funding to overseas research partners — was reducing "capacity building" and research operations in countries with significant HIV challenges. "Capacity building … including in South Africa, Uganda and other countries has been unbelievably successful over the last ten to 20 years," she said. South Africa has the largest number of people living with HIV globally — approximately 7.7 million individuals, or 12 per cent of its population. "Lots of vaccine trials, treatment trials, prevention trials that have transformed our care for people with HIV have been done in South Africa," Professor Lewin said. But recent cuts have led to several HIV studies in the country to be halted, in some cases just days before human trials were due to start. Professor Lewin also expressed concern about the future of a "novel antiviral drug" called Lenacapavir, which last year was found to provide almost 100 per cent protection against HIV in clinical trials. While not quite a vaccine, the twice-yearly injection had researchers "hugely excited" that as a long-acting formulation, it may help to overcome key barriers to current prevention drugs, including the burden of daily use, frequent healthcare visits, and stigma. "In Africa … most young women don't take [preventative] tablets consistently. When you have an injection for six months, you don't have to worry about it," Professor Lewin said. Last week, Lenacapavir was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration, and the drug manufacturer, Gilead Sciences, has agreed to sell it to low-income countries at affordable prices. But the defunding of global health programs that would have likely bought and distributed the drug has raised questions about if and how it will reach people who really need it. "A lot of the next phase of implementation studies would have been done by PEPFAR," Professor Lewin said. The scientists, community advocates and health leaders who make up the HIV sector are a "resilient community", Professor Lewin said, and there was now lots of activity underway to "identify different ways of doing things". "Some African countries have stepped up their investment … and there's movement from the African Union to negotiate on behalf of many countries to maintain the low cost of drugs, which is very important," she said. "But the scale of what the US did, what it supported in HIV … it was a very significant investment, so to fill that will be very difficult." Dr Namchee Lo from the Australian Global Health Alliance said it was critical that donor countries such as Australia remained committed to funding international aid, both to improve health equity and health security. "Australia, unlike some other countries — including the UK, France, Germany which have reduced international aid — hasn't stepped back … but our investment into [official development assistance] could be larger." The Asia Pacific region is home to the largest HIV epidemic outside of Africa, with 300,000 new cases and 150,000 AIDS-related deaths in 2023. In March, the federal government redirected foreign aid to support Pacific and South-East Asian nations grappling with Trump administration cuts, including for HIV programs in PNG, Fiji and the Philippines. "Without continued support … [the HIV response] risks collapsing, leaving a system that is weakened and vulnerable to resurgence," Dr Namchee Lo said. Globally, although there is an "emergency need" to address HIV funding gaps now, the US' decision to drastically reduce aid also presented an opportunity for the sector to look for stronger and "more sustainable" partnerships, she said. "It is really important in global health that we work in partnership, either with countries or communities, to both capacity share, knowledge share, innovation share, and to build up in co-design and partnership support for health overall."
