PxWire is AVAC’s quarterly update covering the latest in the field of biomedical HIV prevention research, implementation and advocacy. Highlights in this issue of PxWire include an update on the ongoing discussion regarding the proposed PAVE 100 vaccine trial, details on the first microbicide trial in pregnant women, a Mexico City preview, and notes on two recently released resources for the field, AVAC Report 2008: The Search Must Continue and the Global Campaign for Microbicides’ Microbicides Essentials online learning tool.
Px Wire April-June 2008, Vol. 1, No. 2
Px Wire January-March 2008, Vol. 1, No. 1
This is the first issue of our new quarterly, PxWire, which tracks key developments in the field of HIV prevention research, including the launch of new trials, results of ongoing studies and an up-to-date tally of trials going on worldwide. PxWire is designed to complement AVAC’s other publications and to help advocates stay on top of the ever-changing field of HIV prevention research. It is the first one-stop source for information on the full range of HIV prevention research going on worldwide, including vaccines, microbicides, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), herpes simplex virus-2 treatment, male circumcision, cervical barrier methods and partner treatment.
Finding Your Way: A guide to understanding ethical issues related to participation in clinical trials for preventive HIV vaccines
This guide is designed to help readers gain a better understanding of the ethical issues involved in developing a preventive HIV vaccine. While much of the guide is intended for a prospective clinical trial participant, it provides a basic introduction for anyone who wants to learn more about ethical issues and HIV vaccine development.
AIDS Vaccine Handbook: 2nd edition, Global perspectives
The Handbook provides comprehensive introductory material on the key scientific, policy, social, ethical and economic facets of AIDS vaccine research. While the science has changed greatly over the decade since this second edition of the Handbook was published in 2005, the themes and content in many of the essays still hold true. Edited by Patricia Kahn, the handbook contains articles by community educators and advocates, trial staff and volunteers, scientists and researchers, and policy makers and journalists.
2003 AVAC Report: 4 Years and Counting: How do you Fight a Disease of Mass Destruction?
When America became frightened by the bio-terror threat, Congress and the Administration moved swiftly to put funding and incentives in place. That same kind of decisive action is needed to accelerate research and ensure an AIDS vaccine is available to all who need it. This Report looks at the bioterror model, and provides the results of our new industry survey.
2002 AVAC Report: 5 Years and Counting: Science, Urgency and Courage
Five years away from the date former President Bill Clinton set as a goal for finding an AIDS vaccine, there are more candidate vaccine products in development than ever before. No one knows if any of the current experimental vaccines will work. No one even knows what immune response a vaccine needs to elicit to prevent HIV disease. The only way to obtain answers is to ask tens of thousands of altruistic and courageous participants to participate in dozens of trials. The only way to obtain answers is to invest hundreds of millions of dollars to fund these trials.
2001 AVAC Report: 6 Years and Counting: Can a Shifting Landscape Accelerate an AIDS Vaccine?
In 1996, AVAC was the first organization to demand that development of an AIDS vaccine become a national goal. President Clinton set that goal in May 1997, calling for a successful vaccine by 2007. We are now six years away from the goal and counting. None of the challenges are insurmountable. The optimism that characterizes HIV vaccine research today should drive policy makers and researchers to grapple effectively with the issues that remain. An HIV vaccine is possible. The question is how soon we find it, and who gets it when we do.
2000 AVAC Report: 7 Years and Counting: How Can We Overcome Obstacles to an AIDS Vaccine?
The last year was one of great activity across US agencies and throughout the world. This Report documents the steadily increasing activity in the quest for a vaccine against HIV. We have also identified several actions necessary to accelerate development of HIV vaccines, and we outline all of this in the AVAC Report for 2000.
1999 AVAC Report: 8 Years and Counting: What Will Speed the Development of an AIDS Vaccine?
This Report urges government, industry, and community to dedicate themselves to the development of a safe and effective HIV vaccine. If the goal for 2007 cannot be achieved, then we need to know what will be accomplished over the next eight years toward a vaccine that could bring the HIV pandemic under control. With 16,000 new HIV infections each day, the world can afford no delay. This Report describes what each of these sectors has accomplished during the past year and outlines what each can do to speed the search for a preventive vaccine.
1998 AVAC Report: 9 Years and Counting: Will We Have an HIV Vaccine by 2007?
This report surveys the public- and private-sector efforts on HIV vaccine research and development in the past year, with a focus on the US government agencies and pharmaceutical companies that are most likely to make a difference. It finds that, despite an impressive array of dedicated researchers and increasing funding for HIV vaccines, the world will fall short of President Clinton’s deadline. US government research efforts are not focused on results, leaders err on the side of caution rather than on moving forward, responsibility is diffuse, and the nation has stood silent as pharmaceutical companies, including the world’s largest vaccine producer, make little or no investment in one of the greatest public health challenges of our century. AVAC addresses these obstacles and recommends an agenda for action in this report.