Despite meaningful medical advances, HIV remains a public health concern in Italy, with nearly 15,000 individuals unaware of their infection. A recent gathering,’Ist – Hiv Call 2025,’ in Rome brought together experts to discuss innovative strategies – particularly long-acting therapies and broadened access to pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) – aimed at improving treatment adherence and controlling the epidemic. The event underscored the need for increased awareness and targeted prevention efforts as Italy’s Ministry of Health outlines a new five-year national plan to combat HIV and other infectious diseases.
Rome, November 27 – New preventative strategies and long-acting therapies offer a promising path toward controlling the HIV epidemic by improving treatment adherence, both in prevention and treatment settings, experts say. The potential of these advancements was the focus of a recent event, ‘Ist – Hiv Call 2025: quali opportunità di gestione e prevenzione per l’emergenza sanitaria silente,’ held in Rome on November 27. The event was organized by Cencora-Pharmalex and supported by the Italian National Institute of Health, the Interdisciplinary Society for the Study of Sexually Transmitted Diseases (Simast), the Italian Society of Infectious and Tropical Diseases (Simit), and Federchimica Assobiotec, with unrestricted support from ViiV Healthcare Italia.
HIV remains a “silent epidemic” in Italy, with insufficient public awareness leading to delayed diagnoses and hindering effective virus control, according to event organizers. Currently, an estimated 163,000 people in Italy are living with HIV, and approximately 15,000 are unaware of their infection. Data from the Italian National Institute of Health (ISS) show 2,379 new HIV diagnoses were reported in 2024, translating to an incidence rate of 4 cases per 100,000 residents. The highest incidence rates – 4.5 or more cases per 100,000 residents – were observed in the Lazio, Tuscany, and Emilia Romagna regions.
The majority of those newly diagnosed with HIV in 2024 were male, accounting for 79% of cases. The median age of diagnosis was 41 years, slightly higher for men (41 years) than for women (40 years). These statistics highlight the ongoing need for targeted prevention and testing efforts.
Advances in treatment and prevention are offering renewed hope for both those at risk of contracting HIV and those already living with the virus. These innovations have the potential to significantly reduce the risk of infection and severe health outcomes, transforming HIV into a manageable chronic condition. According to UNAIDS, by 2025, 86% of people living with HIV should achieve an undetectable viral load, and 95% of those at risk should have access to pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP).
The Rome event provided a platform for clinicians, institutions, and patient associations to discuss therapeutic innovations and prevention challenges. Long-acting treatments, in particular, are showing promise in improving adherence and outcomes when diagnoses are timely. “A recent clinical study demonstrated that over 90% of patients preferred switching to long-acting injectable therapy after initial oral treatment, because it offers greater freedom in daily life and reduces the stigma associated with illness,” explained Massimo Andreoni, Scientific Director of the Italian Society of Infectious and Tropical Diseases (Simit) and member of the Superior Council of Health.
“Long-acting preventative and treatment strategies promote better adherence, reduce the risk of treatment failure, and increase the effectiveness of infection prevention,” Andreoni added. “When possible, we doctors should offer these options to people with HIV. In terms of prevention, PrEP should be viewed as an accessible prevention tool for everyone.”
The World Health Organization’s updated guidelines emphasize the importance of widespread availability of long-acting PrEP, recognizing its crucial role in public health protection. Italy’s Ministry of Health recently unveiled its new National Plan for interventions to prevent HIV, viral hepatitis, and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) for the five-year period 2024-2028. “This programmatic document aims to strengthen prevention strategies, early diagnosis, and care, in line with WHO goals for eliminating viral hepatitis and containing HIV and STIs by 2030,” stated Maria Rosaria Campitiello, Head of the Department of Prevention, Research, and Health Emergencies at the Ministry of Health.
A key component of the new plan is a strong investment in combined prevention, free condom distribution, and expanded PrEP access, which currently faces significant accessibility barriers in Italy. Campitiello emphasized the need to accelerate PrEP implementation.
Francesco Saverio Mennini, Head of the Department of Planning, Medical Devices, Pharmaceuticals, and Policies Supporting the National Health Service at the Ministry of Health, added, “Despite therapeutic advances, infectious diseases, particularly HIV, remain a significant health challenge. The Ministry of Health is working to reduce the incidence of new infections, increase access to testing, improve linkage-to-care, and promote integration between prevention, screening, and treatment, especially in vulnerable populations. We recognize the importance of a One Health approach, integrating innovation and planning. In the fight against HIV, it is essential to promote prevention and treatment strategies that allow us to achieve the WHO’s goal of eradicating the epidemic by 2030. Such strategies would be an investment both economically and in terms of quality of life and avoided complications for patients.”
Luciano Ciocchetti, Vice President of the XII Commission on Social Affairs, Chamber of Deputies, stressed the importance of maintaining focus on HIV. “To achieve the WHO’s goal, policymakers must strongly commit to prevention and ensure equitable access to the most advanced care. Only authentic collaboration between national and regional institutions, the scientific community, and associations representing patients and involved communities can generate concrete progress for both those at risk and those living with the virus.”
Experts underscore the importance of understanding and recognizing the role of long-acting strategies, as they could be essential for protecting public health. Giordano Madeddu, President of Section L of the Health Technical Committee (CTS), Ministry of Health, explained, “Section L of the CTS plays a central role in coordinating measures to contain the spread of HIV and in monitoring the quality of healthcare for people with HIV. We are involved in the development of innovative projects and therapies. During my presidency, we plan to advance priority actions included in the National Action Plan to eradicate HIV, hepatitis, and sexually transmitted infections. This includes promoting PrEP implementation, simplifying testing, and strengthening multidisciplinary management of people undergoing antiretroviral therapy, including the most vulnerable.”
