The difference between speed and cutting corners can be one of life or death for individuals, and of impact versus impasse for societies. Advancing a vaccine candidate without peer-reviewed research results and thorough regulatory review can also undermine confidence in public institutions and vaccines generally. Global health advocates have an essential role to play as watchdogs of the regulatory systems that have worked well for decades, but may be vulnerable to global pressure for a vaccine and the current politicization of science.
Regulatory Approval Primer for Vaccine Advocates
COVID-19 Vaccine Pipeline PowerPoint Presentation
This set of slides offers advocates a view of the funders, platforms, research phase and considerations for some of the front-runner candidates.
Cheat Sheet: COVID-19 Vaccine Pipeline
This three-pager offers advocates an at-a-glance view of the funders, platforms, research phase and considerations for some of the front-runner candidates.
Advocates’ Guide: The risks and benefits of expedited COVID-19 vaccine research
This guide highlights the strategies being implemented to shorten the COVID-19 vaccine development timeline and the benefits, risks and key takeaways for each.
Designing a New Generation of HIV Prevention Efficacy Trials
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.
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.
Listen
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.