New Resources on AVAC.org

AVAC has several new resources covering a gamut of cutting-edge issues for the field. An up-close look at the science covered at CROI; a handy snapshot of multipurpose technology (MPTs) moving through the research pipeline; a new infographic on “time to market” for HIV prevention products furthest along in development; and a special publication of Good Participatory Practice fitted to address COVID-19 trials. Read on for details and links for these timely resources.

Time to Market Infographic

Years Ahead in HIV Prevention Research: Time to Market – The latest addition to our extensive infographic library is this new timeline showing the potential time points when the next-generation of HIV prevention options might find their way into new programs. This new graphic complements the HIV Px Research, Development and Implementation pipeline snapshot and The Years Ahead in Biomedical HIV Px Research trials timeline.

MPTs Making Headway

Advocates’ Guide to Multipurpose Prevention Technologies – Check out this guide to learn about four areas ripe for advocate involvement and get a snapshot on the status of MPT research and development, and data on investments.

Good Participatory Practice in the Age of COVID-19

Essential Principles & Practices for GPP Compliance: Engaging stakeholders in biomedical research during the era of COVID-19 – This guide to support stakeholder engagement in COVID-19 research is built from the Good Participatory Practice Guidelines for Biomedical HIV Prevention Trials (GPP). This new document responds to needs expressed by both researchers and advocates as COVID-19 research progresses with unprecedented speed and urgency. To mark the launch of this new document, AVAC hosted a webinar earlier today, which included diverse perspectives on the importance of GPP within COVID-research and beyond. Watch the recording here.

CROI in Focus

The Personal is Planetary: CROI and COVID one year on – This blog by AVAC’s Emily Bass gives context and perspective on the science and advocacy that defined the Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections in 2021. From a call for vaccine equity to a deep dive into the findings on cabotegravir as long-acting injectable PrEP, read Bass’s blog for a picture on where the science and advocacy is moving.

We are also happy to report that, in response to community requests, CROI organizers have agreed to make all recorded content from the meeting available on April 15—five months earlier than initially planned. And, if you missed it, check out the recordings from the Daily Research Updates for advocates on AVAC’s special CROI page.

Essential Principles & Practices for GPP Compliance: Engaging stakeholders in biomedical research during the era of COVID-19

This document is a new tool to help guide stakeholder engagement in COVID-19 research. Built from the Good Participatory Practice Guidelines for Biomedical HIV Prevention Trials (GPP), this document responds to needs expressed by both researchers and advocates as the world watched COVID-19 research progress with unprecedented speed and urgency.

COVID Vax Tracker

The COVID Vax Tracker provides updates on COVID-19 vaccine trials worldwide. The downloadable tracker provides data on trial location, recruitment status, participant totals, inclusion criteria and more.

COVID-19 Vaccine Cheat Sheet: Access Edition

This two-pager profiles authorized vaccines with an emphasis on the “3 C’s” that have a significant impact on equitable access: cost, cold chain and manufacturing capacity.

New Resources to Help Navigate the News on HIV and COVID-19

The latest news on R&D breakthroughs for prevention of COVID-19 and HIV brings to our lips this call: it’s time to be ready for action with dogged determination to demand transparency, accountability, evidence and equity. In case you missed it, AVAC has new resources to help prepare.

Long-Acting PrEP and the HIV Prevention Pipeline

HPTN 084 Primary Study Results Webinar – Download the HPTN webinar with trial leaders from HPTN 084 who discuss the primary results of HPTN 084.

Landmark Trial in East and Southern Africa Finds Injectable PrEP Safe and Effective for Cisgender Women – Read AVAC’s statement on HPTN 084’s efficacy findings and what must come next.

The Future of ARV-Based Prevention and Biomedical HIV Prevention Trials: Results, milestones and more – Check out the updates to our infographics on the HIV prevention pipeline.

HIV-Specific Neutralizing Antibodies by Target and Broadly Neutralizing Antibody Combinations – We’ve also updated these infographics on broadly neutralizing antibodies in HIV prevention research.

AMP-ticipation: Context and concepts for understanding the AMP Trials – Read this blog to prepare for the forthcoming results from the Antibody Mediated Prevention Study.

Protecting Global Gains

Protectingglobalgains.org – At this recently launched site, Amref Health Africa, AVAC and Friends of the Global Fight have come together to document the impact COVID-19 is having on global health programs and the innovative solutions that are being developed and implemented all over the world.

Global PrEP Tracker – This update of Q3 data shows overall global uptake continued to climb even in the midst of COVID-19. The number of people who have started on PrEP has reached 773,474, an increase of more than 23 percent since the year began.

The Promise and Challenge of PrEP for Adolescent Girls and Young Women – Listen to this podcast from our colleagues at CSIS, which includes perspectives from AVAC and Wits RHI.

Efficacy & Equity: Twin Powers to End Epidemics

Why exciting results from vaccine research are just the beginning of efforts to end COVID-19 – AVAC’s Mitchell Warren penned this Devex op-ed, pointing to important lessons from the field HIV on the steep but scalable challenges of turning highly effective prevention tools into real and accessible options for people in need.

Advocate’s Guide to COVID-19 Vaccine Access – A plain-language guide covering the necessary components for equitable COVID-19 vaccine access to help inform and support advocates.

Treatment Action Group and AVAC Statement on Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine Efficacy Announcement – Read our statement with the Treatment Action Group (TAG) to learn more about what must come next to move forward with COVID-19 vaccines.

Efficacy News from Second COVID-19 Vaccine Trial Underscores Need for Transparency and Cooperation between Outgoing and Incoming US Administrations – Read this statement joint statement from AVAC and TAG to learn how and why US leaders must put people ahead of politics.

At AVAC, we’re watching for more COVID-19 vaccines that may soon join the two now showing efficacy, while our eyes remain firmly on HIV prevention options still in the pipeline. At the same time, no less focus is needed on programs and policies for equitable access. Use these resources to work with health leaders of all stripes to build the systems the world needs for prevention to become a reality everywhere it’s needed.

Biomedical HIV Prevention Trials: Results, milestones and more

This graphic shows the updated status of large-scale prevention trials through 2022 and the impact of COVID-19 on each trial.

Another version of this graphic is available here (same content, different visual Treatment U=U).

Regulatory Approval Primer for Vaccine Advocates

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.

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.

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.

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.