Designing trials to test new HIV prevention modalities remains crucial; high rates of new infections persist in communities all over the world. Even with effective tools becoming more accessible, it’s clear no single option fits every need. But those same options make the design of future trials increasingly complex. Bill Snow, AVAC co-founder and senior advisor, explores this issue in Designing a New Generation of Prevention Efficacy Trials. The report lays out basic concepts in innovations in trial design and an analysis of the implications for advocacy.
Designing a New Generation of HIV Prevention Efficacy Trials
A Statement on the Future of HIV Prevention Trials
AVAC’s inaugural Trial Design Academy convened in September 2019. At that meeting, a group of around 20 HIV prevention advocates from across the globe explored technical issues related to trial designs, and engaged with researchers, statisticians and regulators to understand the decisions—which must incorporate input from advocates. As an outcome of this workshop, the group developed a statement of its viewpoints and stances on this new, complex generation of HIV prevention trials—this work was presented at AIDS 2020 Virtual: Advocates’ Perspectives on Next-Generation HIV Prevention Trial Design. Read the consensus statement.
Research Fundamentals: What is partial protection?
AVAC is launching a new series on our podcast Px Pulse—Research Fundamentals. In addition to our regular schedule of programs covering advances and challenges in HIV prevention research, Research Fundamentals we’ll explore scientific concepts in research, one at a time.
In our debut episode we explore the concept of partial protection, with:
- David Evans, science and advocacy consultant for AVAC, formerly of Project Inform
- Penny Moore from South Africa’s University of the Witwatersrand and National Institute for Communicable Diseases
- And Sandhya Vasan of the US Military HIV Research Program
Together we explore the meaning of partial protection. Whether it’s condoms, a flu shot, oral PrEP or the dapivirine vaginal ring, proven products fall short of 100 percent protection against disease, and there’s a lot to know about how and why an intervention may offer imperfect but still useful protection.
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Integration of HIV prevention and SRH services in Zimbabwe
Findings from an assessment of HIV prevention and SRH integration in Zimbabwe, conducted in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Child Care, comprised of site visits to health facilities, key informant interviews, civil society dialogues and a policy review.
Advocates’ Primer on Injectable Cabotegravir for PrEP: Trials, Approvals, Rollout and More
Results from two large-scale efficacy trials found that injectable cabotegravir (CAB-LA), given every two months, was effective as a form of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in preventing HIV in gay men and other men who have sex with men, transgender women who have sex with men, and cisgender women. CAB-LA was developed by ViiV Healthcare and is currently used in HIV treatment. It was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as the first form of injectable PrEP in December 2021. This document focuses on CAB-LA for prevention, outlining what’s known and what’s next for this emerging biomedical HIV prevention strategy.
COMPASS
Since 2017, the Coalition to Build Momentum, Power, Strategy and Solidarity has broken new ground in transnational HIV activism that’s grounded in rigorous analysis, fearless tactics and collaboration across geographies. We’re winning commitments and changes that will drive epidemic control. Read on to see what the future of AIDS activism looks like.
A Collaborative Approach to HIV Prevention Product Introduction
The HIV prevention product pipeline offers exciting potential to curb HIV incidence. But we know from previous products that translating trial efficacy to population impact is challenging without coordinated effort.
The Intersections of HIV and COVID-19 in Real-Time
As the COVID-19 pandemic rages on across the world, the latest crisis is markedly reminiscent of the early days of HIV. And while the HIV epidemic is far from over, unrelenting activism, strong community engagement, partnerships and innovation are to thank for the strides the field has made towards controlling the epidemic.
Now, the response to COVID-19 is drawing heavily from these successes, and at the same time, forcing even more innovation on the HIV front.
In this episode of Px Pulse, we’ve compiled excerpts from two April webinars that offer unique perspectives on how COVID-19 and HIV are shaping one another. First, Mark Feinberg, CEO of IAVI, and Helen Rees, Executive Director of the Wits Reproductive Health and HIV Institute (Wits RHI), speak to COVID-19 vaccine development, and the role of the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovation (CEPI) in spurring vaccine funding and collaboration. We then turn to community engagement experts Sinead Delany-Moretlwe, Director of Research at Wits RHI, Vincent Basajja of the Uganda Virus Research Institute, Jau Nanyondo from Uganda’s Makerere University Walter Reed Project and Philister Adhiambo from the Kenya Medical Research Institute, who explain how HIV prevention trials are adapting in the wake of COVID-19.
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Applying Lessons from Family Planning to HIV Prevention Product Introduction
An analysis of lessons and data from family planning in sub-Saharan Africa to better inform introduction of HIV prevention products and integration of HIV prevention into family planning settings.
Integration of HIV Prevention and Sexual Reproductive Health Services in Kenya
Findings from an assessment of HIV prevention and SRH integration in Kenya, conducted in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, comprised of site visits to health facilities, key informant interviews, civil society dialogues and a policy review.