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ViiV HEALTHCARE LAUNCHES ‘RISK TO REASONS’ INITIATIVE IN THE UK TO EMPOWER WOMEN TO TAKE CONTROL OF THEIR HIV PREVENTION CHOICES

  • While surveillance data from 2024 shows an encouraging reduction in HIV transmissions1, more needs to be done to meet the UK government’s ambitious goal of eliminating new HIV transmissions by 20302.
  • ViiV’s 'Risk to Reasons' initiative reframes HIV conversations, moving beyond stigma and 'risk' to help women make informed choices about prevention options.
  • Developed with a working group, the initiative includes educational resources for healthcare professionals and women.

London, 27 October 2025 – ViiV Healthcare, the global specialist HIV company majority owned by GSK, with Pfizer and Shionogi as shareholders, today announced the extension of its 'Risk to Reasons' initiative in the UK following success in the US, demonstrating their continued commitment to women and their deep understanding of the community. 

This national initiative aims to empower both women and healthcare professionals to have open and honest conversations about HIV prevention options without fear. Moving beyond harmful stereotypes and labels of ‘risk’, this initiative champions inclusive prevention by focusing on the real-life reasons women choose prevention, empowering them with informed choices and creating safe spaces to discuss all available options.

While recent data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) indicates a slight decline in new diagnoses among women in the UK, around 24% of people who are more likely to acquire HIV need better access to pre exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), this includes heterosexual women, who are less likely to be recognised as people who require HIV prevention compared with gay and bisexual men3.

Women make up around a third of people living with HIV in the UK. Historically, conversations about HIV have often focused on ‘risk’, a standpoint that not only alienates women but also reinforces stigma through sexist and misogynistic language that places blame where it shouldn't be.

‘Risk to Reasons’ is an initiative that champions inclusive prevention, recognising that a woman’s reasons for thinking about HIV prevention are shaped by her identity, relationships and lived experiences. It calls on healthcare professionals to create safe and supportive spaces where women can explore prevention options, such as condoms, PrEP and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), without fear of judgement.

Dr Nneka Nwokolo, Head of Global Patient Engagement at ViiV Healthcare and practicing HIV physician, said: “We must reframe conversations about HIV prevention to be free from the shame and fear that hold women back from making informed decisions about their health. This initiative is about listening to women, putting them at the centre, and ensuring HIV prevention is presented as an empowering choice, not a warning. Every woman has her own reasons for considering HIV prevention, and those reasons deserve to be heard. I know first-hand the importance of ensuring no one is left behind. This commitment is at the heart of ViiV Healthcare, a company 100% dedicated to HIV and uniquely positioned to understand the diverse needs of women living with HIV.”

The 'Risk to Reasons' initiative has been shaped by a working group of women with lived experience, community leaders, clinicians and other experts whose experiences were central to developing tools that truly reflect the realities of women’s lives in the UK. These dedicated individuals, actively working to reframe risk, bring a wealth of knowledge and unwavering commitment to the initiative. Together, they collaboratively discussed frameworks, approaches and messages to effectively increase women’s awareness, knowledge and participation in HIV prevention.

Through educational resources developed by the working group, including a guide for healthcare professionals and a guide for women, the initiative aims to:

  • Increase awareness of HIV prevention options among women
  • Reduce stigma in clinical and community settings
  • Encourage open-minded, non-judgemental conversations about sexual health
  • Ensure prevention information reaches every woman, regardless of background

Sarah Mulindwa, sexual health nurse, presenter and broadcaster, said: “For too long, the narrative around HIV prevention has been shaped by fear and judgement, especially for women. I see daily the impact this has on women’s ability to engage in a conversation about prevention. 'Risk to Reasons' is a really important step towards creating a world where every woman feels empowered to discuss her sexual health openly, understand her options, and make decisions that truly fit her life, without shame or blame.”

At its heart, this initiative is driven by a commitment to supporting the UK Government’s HIV Action Plan, aiming to end new transmissions by 2030, by investing in prevention and targeted awareness to women. 'Risk to Reasons' highlights ViiV’s deep commitment to the HIV community, filling a crucial gap by bringing much-needed focus and understanding to women's experiences with HIV prevention.

The ‘Risk to Reasons’ UK guides are available for download on ViiV Healthcare's website at https://viivhealthcare.com/hiv-community-engagement/risk-to-reasons/.

About ‘Risk to Reasons’
The ‘Risk to Reasons’ initiative aims to engage women and HCPs across the UK in healthy and non-judgemental conversations about HIV prevention. It was originally launched in the US and was focused primarily on Black women and women of colour.

About ViiV Healthcare
ViiV Healthcare is a global specialist HIV company established in November 2009 by GSK (LSE: GSK) and Pfizer (NYSE: PFE) dedicated to delivering advances in treatment and care for people living with HIV and for people who could benefit from HIV prevention. Shionogi became a ViiV shareholder in October 2012. The company’s aims are to take a deeper and broader interest in HIV and AIDS than any company has done before and take a new approach to deliver effective and innovative medicines for HIV treatment and prevention, as well as support communities affected by HIV.

For more information on the company, its management, portfolio, pipeline, and commitment, please visit viivhealthcare.com.

About GSK
GSK is a global biopharma company with a purpose to unite science, technology, and talent to get ahead of disease together. Find out more at gsk.com.

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Cautionary statement regarding forward-looking statements

GSK cautions investors that any forward-looking statements or projections made by GSK, including those made in this announcement, are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Such factors include, but are not limited to, those described in the “Risk Factors” section in GSK’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for 2024, and GSK’s Q2 Results for 2025.

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References:

  1. UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). HIV testing, PrEP, new HIV diagnoses and care outcomes for people accessing HIV services: 2025 report. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/hiv-annual-data-tables/hiv-testing-prep-new-hiv-diagnoses-and-care-outcomes-for-people-accessing-hiv-services-2025-report Last accessed: October 2025.
  2. Public Health England. HIV in the United Kingdom: Towards Zero HIV transmissions by 2030. 2019 report. Available at: HIV in the UK: Towards Zero HIV transmissions by 2030 Last accessed: October 2025
  3. UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). HIV testing, PrEP, new HIV diagnoses and care outcomes for people accessing HIV services: 2025 report. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/hiv-annual-data-tables/hiv-testing-prep-new-hiv-diagnoses-and-care-outcomes-for-people-accessing-hiv-services-2025-report Last accessed: October 2025

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OR call +44 7823 523 755

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