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[link removed] March 31, 2025


** AVAC’s quarterly newsletter of the latest in STI vaccines, diagnostics, and other prevention tools and strategies.
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Last week, the US FDA granted marketing authorization ([link removed]) for the first self-test for chlamydia, gonorrhea, and trichomoniasis. This milestone combined with major strides at the end of 2024—such as a new partnership ([link removed]) to expand cervical cancer screening and HPV vaccination programs, along with promising new data ([link removed]) indicating the STI epidemic may be slowing in the US—underscores the field's potential. However, the new US administration is threatening these gains with the gutting of foreign aid, cancellation of dozens of grants focused on vaccine hesitancy and acceptance and take down of the agencies and organizations that survey and collect
data on STIs.

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.


** Introducing the New Self-Care Advocacy Guide for HIV and STI Prevention
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Self-care ([link removed]) , the ability of people to promote and maintain health, prevent disease, and cope with illness and disability with or without the support of a healthcare worker is especially critical now, as the new US administration’s sweeping funding cuts and policy shifts threaten to erode support for traditional healthcare services, including HIV and STI programs. By putting testing, prevention, and treatment directly into people’s hands, self-care can help communities maintain vital health services despite reduced funding, limited access to healthcare, and diminished government support. Read our new guide, Self-Care Advocacy for HIV and STI Prevention ([link removed]) .
read the guide [link removed]
Priorities, Insights and Resources: AVAC’s Top 5 for 2025

As we close the first quarter of 2025, AVAC is tracking a handful of issues and opportunities likely to shape the STI landscape this year. Here are key highlights, trends to watch, and valuable resources to support advocacy.


** Behavioral & Implementation Science Under Threat
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Understanding and addressing the behaviors, attitudes, and beliefs that drive STI prevention is essential—particularly in marginalized communities facing global inequities in vaccine access. Yet recent funding cuts and the termination of NIH grants focused on vaccine hesitancy and acceptance (including HPV and gonorrhea) risk eroding decades of progress. This short-sighted approach undermines efforts to build trust, widen access, and ensure equitable STI interventions for those who need them most. Be sure to follow along via our weekly Global Health Watch ([link removed]) newsletter and on BlueSky ([link removed]) as we track how these funding cuts are impacting STI research, development and care.


** Meningococcal B Vaccine R&D
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Early studies have shown that a vaccine to protect against meningitis B (4CMenB) may prevent new gonorrhea infections. Clinical trials are underway in several countries to examine the effectiveness of 4CMenB in protecting against gonorrhea infections and results from these studies are expected soon. Check out STIWatch.org/gonorrhea ([link removed]) for more information about this vaccine and others to protect against gonorrhea.


** Doxycycline to Prevent Bacterial STIs (DoxyPEP) ([link removed])
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DoxyPEP can prevent the acquisition of some bacterial STIs after sex and is already in use as an STI prevention intervention in several countries. Ongoing research continues to address key questions regarding antimicrobial resistance, adherence, and identifying the populations that would benefit most.  AVAC’s Advocates’ Guide ([link removed]) explores who will benefit most from DoxyPEP and how it could be implemented to ensure equitable access.


** STI Diagnostics Advancements
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Recent advancements in point-of-care (POC) testing and lateral flow assays (LFAs) are helping to more effectively and efficiently detect and manage STIs. These diagnostic innovations hold the keys to addressing the global rise in STI rates by enabling timely diagnosis and treatment, which will improve outcomes for people and help reduce transition. Just last week, the US FDA granted ([link removed]) marketing authorization ([link removed]) for the first self-test for chlamydia, gonorrhea, & trichomoniasis paving the way for other diagnostics. As these diagnostics are being developed, it remains imperative that we advocate for the equitable implementation of these
tools. Everyone deserves access to tests that could improve their sexual health and wellbeing.


** STI Investments
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While STI rates continue to rise, globally, recent US funding and policy changes are threatening progress in developing new diagnostics and vaccines that meet the needs of communities, especially those in resource limited settings. There is an urgent need for sustained support that promotes the development and implementation of STI vaccines and diagnostics. At AVAC, we are anticipating the release of Impact Global Health’s ([link removed]) report on sexual and reproductive health investments, including those for STIs. To learn more about STI investments and their impact on STI diagnostics, check out our webinar ([link removed]) with Impact Global Health.


** Save the Date for the STI & HIV 2025 World Congress
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All these issues will likely be on full display at the STI & HIV 2025 World Congress ([link removed]) in Montreal, Canada, July 26-30, 2025. AVAC will be there tracking it all. Be sure to register this week ([link removed]) to secure the early registration rate.


register [link removed]
Partner Spotlight


** Spotlight on Advocacy Partner, Elizabeth Zahabu
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Elizabeth Zahabu ([link removed]) from Tanzania and an AVAC Advocacy Navigator ([link removed]) is driving change in STI prevention and treatment through her important community advocacy project in Tanzania. Her report, which you can read more about in this blogpost, highlights findings from a situational analysis she and partners are conducting at Magomeni and Tandale Health Centers in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. This research is uncovering barriers such as the lack of STI self-testing, high service costs, and age-related provider biases that are preventing access to necessary testing and treatment, especially among Adolescent Girls and Young Women (AGYW). These findings underline the urgent need for advocacy to ensure STI self-testing kits are made available in Tanzania, ideally at no cost, similar to HIV services. “Such measures would improve
access, but also enhance confidentiality, and convenience, especially for AGYW and other vulnerable groups,” Zahabu writes. Read more about Elizabeth’s work in this Linked In post. ([link removed])
What We're Reading

* Association Between Herpes Simplex Virus Type 2 and High-Risk Human Papillomavirus Infections ([link removed]) : In an article ([link removed]) published in The Journal of Infectious Diseases, authors found that people with HSV-2 infections are more likely to have an HPV infection that could lead to cervical cancer. While research on this correlation remains limited, these findings underscore the importance of vaccination to prevent infections and HPV-related cancer.

* Potential Impact of Doxycycline Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (DoxyPEP) on Resistance ([link removed]) : An analysis ([link removed]) of gonorrhea isolates published in Clinical Infectious Diseases found that gonorrhea tetracycline resistance increased from 27% in 2023 to 70% in 2024. Tetracyclines are a class of antibiotics that include doxycycline to treat a variety of bacterial infections. While this rise in resistance could be connected with increased doxycycline use in treating chlamydia and non-gonococcal urethritis, evidence also suggests that DoxyPEP is contributing to antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Additional tools are needed to monitor and assess DoxyPEPs impact on AMR.

* Impact of a Potential Chlamydia Vaccine in the US ([link removed]) : In a BMJ Health publication, authors estimate that vaccinating 80% of people aged 15-49 years in the US, with a vaccine that reduces susceptibility, infectiousness, or duration of infection by 50% would reduce chlamydia prevalence by 27%–42% over 10 years. As untreated chlamydia infections can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease, infertility, and increase transmission and acquisition of HIV, a vaccine remains ever important.

* FDA Fast Tracks Sanofi’s mRNA Vaccine for Chlamydia ([link removed]) : The US FDA granted fast-track designation to Sanofi’s mRNA vaccine candidate to protect against primary genital tract infection and reinfection of chlamydia. Chlamydia is the world’s most common bacterial STI.

* The Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections ([link removed]) (CROI) wrapped up in March. Read more about the promise of scientific advances, including new research on DoxyPEP, against the backdrop of the US government’s priorities here ([link removed]) and here ([link removed]) .

To learn more about AVAC’s STI Program, visit STIWatch.org ([link removed]) and avac.org/sti. Email [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) for questions or additional information. And to sign up for specific updates on STIs, click here ([link removed]) .
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