Advocates and researchers discussed data presented at IAS 2015, its implications and what’s next on the road to Durban 2016!
Post IAS 2015 Webinar: What was presented and what it means on the road to Durban 2016
Transgender Women and PrEP: What’s the latest?
The US Women and PrEP Working Group and partners had a first-hand look at PrEP and transgender women — through the eyes of women prescribing it, using it, choosing not to use it, advocates calling for more research on it and policy-makers charged with integrating it into the national HIV response.
You can click here to view the video.
Slides are also available here.
Breaking Regulatory Barriers for Greater Female Condom Access
A variety of safe and effective female condoms currently exist. However, regulatory hurdles limit new products from entering consumer markets. With the pipeline of new receptive-partner initiated condoms growing, advocates must understand how regulatory issues determine product introduction and approval in their country.
Receptive partner-initiated condoms in development
Link between regulatory environment and female condom access
Current regulatory issues and obstacles
Unique advocacy opportunity to break barriers to existing female condoms and pave the way for emerging internal condoms
You can watch the webinar here.
Vaccines in Vivo: Advances in AIDS Vaccine Research
On May 18, advocates around the world observed HIV Vaccine Awareness Day (HVAD)—an annual commemoration of the need for and commitment to the ongoing search for a vaccine. AVAC convened a webinar—Vaccines in Vivo: Advances in AIDS Vaccine Research—and updated a number of materials, including our “HVAD Toolkit” for those interested in easy-to-digest research updates. This year brought the launch of long-awaited initiation of clinical trials building on positive results from the RV144 “Thai” trial. This effort is led by the Pox-Protein Public-Private Partnership (P5), including the HIV Vaccine Trials Network, who joined the webinar to provide a status update of their current vaccine research and development program. We also featured Janssen, part of Johnson & Johnson, to provide an overview of the research program they are moving forward that focuses on a cross-clade vaccine product.
2015 Update on the Rectal Microbicide Pipeline: New Agents, New Formulations
The field has spent several intense years studying tenofovir gel as a rectal microbicide, and we all look forward to the results (due early 2016) of the world’s first Phase II rectal microbicide trial MTN 017 which tested a reduced glycerin formulation of tenofovir gel.
But there is a lot more going on than tenofovir gel!
In this webinar, hosted by IRMA and AVAC, we looked at new rectal agents in development, including the antiretroviral drug Dapivirine and Griffithsin, a potent, anti-HIV protein derived from red algae. We also discussed plans for developing new microbicide formulations like rectal douches.
New Frontiers in HIV Prevention, Treatment and Cure: An advocate’s webinar on passive immunization
This webinar focused on “passive immunization”—a scientific term for an expanding area of research that’s highly relevant to treatment, prevention and cure work. There are trials in humans happening in many regions of the world—and data are beginning to come in that advocates need to understand, analyze and consider. The webinar featured Dr. Sarah Schlesinger (Rockefeller University) who provided an overview of recent developments across the field including new published data.
Follow the Money: Knowns and unknowns when it comes to cash transfers and financial incentives to improve health in people living with and/or at risk of HIV
This webinar featured Wafaa El-Sadr, principal investigator of HPTN 065, which evaluated the use of cash incentives in improving outcomes for people living with HIV in the United States.
These were useful talks from CROI and excerpts from AVAC Report 2014/15 as preparation for our webinar:
CROI Webcast: Effect of Financial Incentives on Linkage to Care and Viral Suppression: HPTN 065
CROI Webcast: Social Protection, Financial Incentives and Prevention of HIV
Excerpts from AVAC Report on target setting and targets that worked
Demanding Clarity on PrEP: Understanding recent data on oral PrEP
This webinar featured Jean-Michel Molina of the French research agency ANRS and Sheena McCormack of the UK Medical Research Council discussing the data from the IPERGAY and PROUD studies, respectively. Both trials evaluated oral TDF/FTC (brand name Truvada) as PrEP in gay men and other men who have sex with men, and both reported high levels of protection against HIV acquisition. PROUD prescribed a daily pill regimen; IPERGAY asked trial participants to follow an “event driven” regimen that involved a sequence of doses before and after sex. IPERGAY participants took an average of four doses per week—comparable to the estimated protective dose required in trials of daily oral PrEP.
Oral Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis – Putting a new choice in context
The World Health Organization (WHO) released updated guidance in late 2015 on oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), containing tenofovir (TDF), as an additional HIV prevention choice. The new guidance is significantly broader than previously and creates real opportunities to move forward with implementing PrEP as part of comprehensive HIV programmes.
This publication, produced collaboratively between UNAIDS, WHO and AVAC, is intended to complement WHO recommendations and support the optimal use of oral PrEP to protect individuals and contribute to ending the AIDS epidemic.
Planned, Ongoing and Completed PrEP Evaluation studies (July 2015)
This graphic, appearing in AVAC Report 2014/15: HIV Prevention on the Line, shows the planned, ongoing and completed PrEP evaluation studies as of July 2015.