AIDS2024, this year’s annual conference of the International AIDS Society opened with a spotlight on troubling trends. A series of preconferences took on critical topics including supporting key populations in a time of increasing discrimination; new and novel research and implementation of STI prevention and treatment, witnessing a soaring rise in incidence; and the importance of implementing new PrEP options to create more choice for people who need HIV prevention most.
AIDS 2024 Preconference Highlights
First Full Day of AIDS 2024
Lenacapavir for PrEP has taken center stage at the 25th International AIDS Conference, #AIDS2024, which opened Monday with many highlighting its potential for long-acting PrEP for HIV prevention. “It is gobsmackingly exciting to see zero in a clinical trial” AVAC’s Mitchell Warren told Forbes. The potential to bend the curve of the epidemic depends on speeding access to prevention options like LEN, that show high efficacy.
LEN in the Spotlight at AIDS 2024
Midpoint at #AIDS2024 in Munich, one of the most significant advances in HIV prevention in the history of the response, the efficacy of lenacapavir as PrEP, was presented at the Co-Chair’s Choice session. The findings, zero infections and 100% efficacy among the trial participants in the PURPOSE 1 trial, brought a standing ovation.
MPT R&D Funding 2018-2021
This graphic tracks funding levels for a variety of multipurpose technologies for several years. Excerpted from our Advocates’ Guide to Multipurpose Prevention Technologies.
PxPulse: The Advocacy Chronicles with Ruth Akulu
On this episode of the Advocacy Chronicles: a look at advocacy in Uganda for the Dual Prevention Pill (DPP), a new product combining oral PrEP and oral contraception.
Ruth Akulu is a Youth Representative of the Uganda Country Coordinating Mechanism Board for Global Fund, member of the DPP Civil Society Advisory Group, and a 2022 AVAC Advocacy Fellow. Akulu talks about her work to mobilize regulatory authorities to prepare for the DPP. And while she was at it, the establishment of a groundbreaking new initiative, the Product Regulator’s Engagement Committee, which is supporting ongoing engagement between government regulators and young women representing their communities.
Listen to learn why the DPP is a priority for young women and HIV prevention, the challenges Ruth confronted and tactics that supported the success of this advocacy.
Listen
Resources
- The Advocates’ Guide to Multipurpose Prevention Technologies
- The Dual Prevention Pill page on PrEPWatch.org
- FAQ on the Dual Prevention Pill
- Market Preparation and Introduction Strategy for the DPP (Executive Summary also available)
- Frontiers in Reproductive Health special issue: Multipurpose Prevention Technologies
PrEP Justice
Updates on the US v. Gilead case and the fight for equitable PrEP access
In a major twist that could potentially result in as much as $1B for equitable PrEP access in the US, the government has just made the decision to appeal last year’s jury verdict in the US v. Gilead case. The Choice Agenda and PrEP4All discussed the origin of US v. Gilead, the reasons for the government appeal, and what the case means for PrEP users in the United States.
Global HIV Prevention Advocates Call for Accelerated Timeline for Widespread Access to Injectable Lenacapavir for PrEP
A global cadre of HIV prevention advocates is calling for an accelerated timeline for access to the HIV prevention drug lenacapavir. Gilead, the developer of the drug, announced topline results from a large study among cisgender African women on 20 June, followed shortly thereafter with a statement about access.
From The Lab To The Jab: Lessons learned and what’s next in HIV vaccine research
On 3 June 2024, AVAC hosted a webinar highlighting its Lab to Jab issue briefs on research and development, production and equitable global access to vaccines.
Platforms, Not Pathogens
“[Our approach to access and equity] has to be intentional, not incidental, and it has to be empowered, not vulnerable.” — Dr. Jerome Kim, International Vaccine Institute
Panelists stressed an intentional, rather than incidental approach to ensuring global vaccine access and equity, going from pathogens to platforms, and having LMICs move from consumers to actors. They described ways to transform vaccine R & D from a financial imperative of pharmaceutical corporations into a system that addresses health needs through medical innovation. They underscored the importance of new, equity-based models to move low- and middle-income countries from being recipients of vaccine technology to co-creators from the very beginning of the R & D process. These models can work through in-country partnerships for vaccine development and production, shared technology and know-how, use of TRIPS flexibilities, intellectual property waivers and access conditions, and establishing a local production ecosystems.
The webinar featured Dr Jerome Kim, Director General of the International Vaccine Institute, Othoman Mellouk, Access to Diagnostics and Medicines Lead at the International Treatment Preparedness Coalition, and Dr Els Torreele, Founding Director of æqua, a recently created think tank on equity and economic justice for health. The panelists discussed international initiatives for vaccine development, the current state of vaccine research and access, and how they can be improved.
From Consumers to Actors
“Driving innovation at the regional R&D hubs means creating access to the technology platforms that can be adapted to new pathogens or the local health needs.” — Dr. Els Torreele, æqua
As of December 2023, only 56% of the world’s population received a complete series of COVID-19 vaccines, and only 28% had at least one booster dose. Many low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) were last in line to purchase overpriced vaccines. Lack of access to Mpox vaccines in Africa, where it is endemic, continues. These inequities are driven by the current profit-driven model and intellectual property barriers—but there could be a different way.
One major initiative discussed is being spearheaded by the International Vaccine Initiative (IVI), a UN-chartered organization dedicated to accelerating vaccine R&D for global health. Through its robust partnerships, and funding from the Gates Foundation, it has developed two approved vaccines (for cholera and thyphoid)–for less than $30 million each. The IVI also hosts the Advancing Vaccine End-to-End Capabilities in Africa (AVEC) Initiative, which aims to accelerate the development of the African ecosystem for vaccine R&D. Its aim is to support a powerhouse of continental manufacturing through a sustainable pan-African alliance that executes on the ground.
For more information, see:
- Recording and slides
- From The Lab To The Jab series
- HVAD webinar recording
- Px Pulse podcast with Nina Russell
On Access and Equity
“The problem is, until now, our countries are thinking mostly as consumers, not as actors. We only heard a little bit about some initiatives during COVID, because everybody woke up.” — Othoman Mellouk, International Treatment Preparedness Coalition
Landmark Trial in South Africa and Uganda Finds Twice Yearly HIV Prevention Injection Safe and Highly Effective
AVAC Calls for Accelerated Regulatory Review and Ambitious Introduction Plans
Adding additional HIV prevention options means more people may find an option that is right for them. Beyond expanded choice, a twice-yearly injection has the potential to transform the way we deliver HIV prevention to people who need and want it most.
Tracking PrEP Rollout & Learning Lessons
Over the last two years, BioPIC—a project led by AVAC with support from the Gates Foundation—has been gathering and sharing evidence on these critical lessons to ensure the next generation of HIV prevention products reaches everyone who needs and wants them with much greater speed and equity.