This map demonstrates the breadth of HIV prevention research and demonstration projects in the Kisumu region of Kenya by site and type (e.g. daily oral PrEP, preventive Vaccines, etc.). This map was developed by Wits RHI with support from AVAC as part of the Coalition to Accelerate and Support Prevention Research.
Map of HIV Prevention Research and PrEP Demonstration Sites in Kisumu, Kenya
Tracking the Fast-Changing Status of PrEP Around the World
A few weeks ago, South Korea became the latest country to introduce oral PrEP, bringing the number of countries offering PrEP to more than 50. With more people using PrEP every month, AVAC and its HIV Prevention Market Manager project has created the Global PrEP Tracker to help keep track of the fast-changing status of PrEP around the world.
The tracker, housed on the PrEP Watch online clearinghouse, is a single source offering a variety of information, including:
- Estimated PrEP initiations compared to targets by country.
- Specifics on PrEP programs by population, service delivery model and funder.
- Status updates on country registration of tenofovir-based medications for prevention.
- Up-to-date information on daily oral PrEP inclusion in national policy guidelines.
The tracker provides a global snapshot of PrEP statistics by country. PrEP Watch also houses Country Update Pages, which provide an overview of the status of daily oral PrEP in countries where PrEP is rolling out or being considered.
The numbers provided in the Global PrEP Tracker are estimates, as monitoring systems vary by country and are in early stages. Right now, the estimate is of individuals initiated on PrEP in ongoing projects. The tracker does not estimate the number of people actively taking PrEP at a given moment.
Updated quarterly, the estimates in PrEP Watch are derived by review of and outreach to implementers of oral PrEP studies, implementation initiatives and large-scale national programs. AVAC is grateful to the projects who contribute their data–these contributions make the tracker possible! If you notice data are missing, please let us know.
We hope this resource will bring some clarity to the fast-moving field of oral PrEP–and we look forward to working together to continue to improve the tracker in the future!
Three Perspectives, Two Trials and One Big Goal
With more efficacy trials underway today than ever before in HIV prevention research, this episode of Px Pulse zooms in on two that have most recently launched: one of two trials testing a long-acting injectable antiretroviral called cabotegravir (HPTN 084), and the study of a “mosaic” vaccine developed by Janssen Pharmaceuticals (HVTN 705/HPX2008).
Three Perspectives on Two Big HIV Prevention Trials in Latest Px Pulse Podcast
The February episode of the Px Pulse podcast is up and brings you three perspectives on two recently launched major trials in HIV prevention: HPTN 084 testing a long-acting injectable antiretroviral called cabotegravir and HVTN 705/HPX 2008 testing a “mosaic” vaccine.
- What opportunities stand out in an advocate’s eyes as these trials enroll?
- What’s a mosaic vaccine?
- What’s the status of ethical standards at trial sites?
Explore these issues and more in this episode of Px Pulse, AVAC’s podcast on HIV prevention research today.
You’ll hear from Malawi’s veteran advocate Maureen Luba, Zimbabwe-based bioethicist Paul Ndebele and leading scientist Dan Barouch.
In a hurry? Select among the podcast highlights.
Px Wire January-March 2018, Vol. 11, No. 1
In this issue of Px Wire, we take a hard look at a host of major milestones coming up toward ambitious global targets for ending the epidemic. We also include detailed infographics on showing the status of oral PrEP rollout in the countries where trial sites are located, explaining the demographics of Africa’s “youth bulge” and its implications for the global response and more.
Target Tracking for Epidemic Control
Calculating progress toward the UNAIDS Fast Track Goals is complex but ambitious targets are the best kind. AVAC has long argued they propel action even if they aren’t met. But when it comes to achieving epidemic control, progress must be properly calculated, and can never be confused with success.
Appearing in Px Wire, this is a modified version of a graphic appearing in AVAC Report 2017.
New Px Wire — 2018: Countdowns and counting what matters
The first issue of AVAC’s quarterly newsletter for 2018 is here! It’s designed to help you mark your calendars and make your advocacy plans for critical events in the next 12 months. These include:
- The upcoming country deadlines for creating roadmaps to implement the priorities laid out by the UNAIDS’ Global Prevention Coalition. This work is supposed to jump-start primary prevention and bring down the rate of new diagnoses by 75 percent by 2020. Will it? Only if you get involved!
- In the coming weeks, PEPFAR and many stakeholders will gather to develop targets, service delivery approaches and comprehensive plans for testing, prevention, treatment and virologic suppression in PEPFAR countries. It’s a key process for civil society to track. Find out how!
- In 2019, the ECHO trial is expected to release its results on whether three different contraceptive methods impact women’s risk of HIV—but preparation for these trial results is starting now! Get involved!
- Seven major efficacy trials of biomedical prevention tools are currently underway—read on to find out where, what and how to learn more.
This issue of Px Wire also includes a detailed infographic showing the status of oral PrEP rollout in the countries where trial sites are located. And don’t miss the infographic explaining the demographics of Africa’s “youth bulge” and its implications for the global response.
Find the full issue of Px Wire and the archive of past issues at www.avac.org/pxwire.
Standard of Care in the Era of PrEP
Every research trial of a new HIV prevention option offers a package of services to protect participants from HIV. This standard of care is essential to the design of an ethical trial.
So what do we do now that oral PrEP has hit the world: It works if you take it; roll out is reaching some places and populations better than others. And people on PrEP often need support to stick with it. All this makes adding Oral PrEP a paramount question for trials. This month’s Px Pulse follows a recent summit in Cape Town South Africa where advocates, researchers and regulators confronted the high stakes of post-PrEP prevention research.
Video Series: Lessons from the Field
Six short videos spotlight lessons learned at PrEP demonstration projects run by LVCT Health in Kenya. The series explores key issues from the introduction of PrEP and managing symptoms to adherence and the role of support groups.
African Advocates Build Platforms and Networks to Push for HIV Prevention Access and Ethical Research Conduct in Africa
Morenike Oluwatoyin Folayan is an Associate Professor at Obafemi Awolowo University and Coordinator of the New HIV Vaccine and Microbicide Advocacy Society (NHVMAS) in Ife, Nigeria. This post first appeared in News Proof.
It was a beautiful sight to behold – the coming together of African advocates for HIV prevention access and conduct of biomedical HIV prevention research that respects the rights and welfare of participants. Acronyms like NHVMAS, AfNHI, VARG, AAVVi.net, APHA, WACIHealth were a delight to hear.
The New HIV Vaccine and Microbicide Advocacy Society (NHVMAS) was the oldest of the pack. It was formed by Advocates in Nigeria to push for the access of Nigerians to biomedical HIV prevention tools as soon as they were available way back in 2004. It is expanding its scope of work to West Africa and liasing with other networks to expand its work to Africa.
One of its chief liaison is WACIHealth. WACIHealth is focused on promoting increased domestic funding for health in Africa. It expanded its scope of work to include advocacy for HIV prevention commodity access, including promoting domestic investment for biomedical HIV prevention research, in 2011 just ahead of the Abuja+12 conference. Its partnership with NHVMAS led to the successful implementation of the biennial Biomedical HIV Prevention Forum since 2013. The forum serves as a platform for networking, sharing, providing updates and motivating for new action to promote access to HIV prevention tools and investment in ethical conduct of biomedical HIV prevention in Africa.
AfNHI is a birth product of the WACIHealth and NHVMAS with ample midwifery from AVAC. AfNHI envisons seeing Africa free of New HIV Infection. It is led by Africans for Africa and largely marries the vision of both WACIHealth and NHVMAS for the purpose of prevention new HIV infection in Africa. The network was launched during the 2017 Biomedical HIV Prevention pre-conference that held on the 3rd of December 2017 in Abidjan.
Also launched was the Vaccine Advocacy Resource Group (VARG). The Group is more global in outlook with members from beyond Africa. The lead of the Group – Tian Johnson – shared the goals and aspiration of the group at the meeting one of which was to be the voice of community advisory boards. The group is largely focused on promoting HIV vaccine research that respects the rights of study participants, and future end users. It tries to address the complex relationship between race, gender, rights and research. One of its most astounding work is the shift it accomplished with respect to PrEP access for all and by all study participants enrolled for HIV vaccine research in South Africa. This landmark shift in the context of designing and implementing HIV prevention research is historical and a huge success worthy of celebration – a proof that the VARG through its members – the VARGers – has the potential to make landmark changes in the way HIV prevention research is designed and implemented in Africa.
Also present at the meeting was Ntando Yola, a founding member of APHA – a group of HIV prevention advocates working in South Africa; and Prince Bahati, a member of AAVVi.net – a group of researchers and advocates who are set to shape the science of HIV vaccine research in Africa.
While it is so heartening to see the evolution of these groups on the continent the hosts the highest number of HIV prevention research, it was clear that more work needs to be done to breed new and many young advocates on the continent. You find the same set of people belonging to the groups. This comes with its challenges – how novel and distinct can the concepts and ideas of these groups be? How do they deal with conflicts of interest? How do the organisations handle the financial resources from funders?
The AVAC Fellowship and PxROAR Africa programmes and the NHVMAS LeNNiB Champion project may be one of the many ways to address this time-limited challenge. Let’s look forward optimistically to what these networks, platforms, organisations, programmes and project is set to do for HIV epidemic on the sub-Saharan continent.