Frontiers in Reproductive Health: How might we motivate uptake of the Dual Prevention Pill?

Findings from human-centered design research with potential end users, male partners and healthcare providers

AVAC’s Wawira Nyagah and Kate Segal co-authored a comprehensive manuscript on a demand generation approach for the DPP (Dual Prevention Pill) including findings from research with potential users, male partners, and healthcare providers.

Read the abstract below and the full published research article here.

Multipurpose prevention technologies (MPTs) combining contraception with HIV prevention offer a promising solution to uptake and adherence challenges faced with oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). The Dual Prevention Pill (DPP), which combines oral PrEP with an oral contraceptive pill (OCP), could address unmet need for family planning (FP) and HIV prevention. This study aimed to identify barriers and motivators for DPP uptake to inform the development of a DPP demand generation strategy and broader introduction efforts for MPTs.

The Architecture for Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness, & Response (PPPR): Views from Civil Society Leaders on the UN High Level Meetings (Guest Essay)

AVAC’s Executive Director along with partners from the Coalition of Advocates for Global Health and Pandemic Preparedness penned an essay to make the case of meaningful investment in Pandemic Preparedness while referencing continued failures of the COVID-19 pandemic. Read the full essay here.

The Case For an HIV Cure and How to Get There

Viewpoint appearing in The Lancet HIV

Appearing in The Lancet HIV: We propose steps to plan for an HIV cure now, including defining a target product profile and establishing the HIV Cure Africa Acceleration Partnership (HCAAP), a multidisciplinary public-private partnership that will catalyse and promote HIV cure research through diverse stakeholder engagement. HCAAP will convene stakeholders, including people living with HIV, at an early stage to accelerate the design, social acceptability, and rapid adoption of HIV-cure products.

Including Pregnant and Breastfeeding People in Trials of Novel LAED PrEP Agents

Perspective from sub-Saharan Africa community stakeholders

This paper describes how community consultation based in the principles of GPP led to researchers gaining an enhanced understanding of their community’s strongly held views and concerns about PrEP for pregnant and lactating people, and whether and how to include of those people in PrEP research.

COMPASS Africa Newsletter (February 2023)

Year End Newsletter

In this issue: five end of the year SPARC stories, eight topline findings from the coalition health score card, in-country strategy labs and the all COMPASS strategy lab.

Re: Draft Recommendation Statement and Draft Evidence Review: Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis for the Prevention of HIV Infection

AVAC submits comment and response to the United States Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF) Draft Recommendation statement for PrEP. The USPSTF recommended an “A” Grade for PrEP that includes CAB for PrEP.

Correlations between Oral Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) Initiations and Policies that Enable the Use of PrEP to Address HIV Globally

This article from PLoS Global Public Health presents the results of an analysis examining whether policies enabling broad PrEP eligibility, HIV self-testing, and lowered age of consent to HIV testing and treatment services are correlated with PrEP uptake.

AVAC Comments to FDA in Support of PrEP Approval

Comments delivered to the FDA’s Antiviral Drugs Advisory Committee (AVDAC) Meeting by Mitchell Warren, Executive Director, AVAC.

Future Prospects for New Vaccines Against Sexually Transmitted Infections

This review provides an update on the need, development status, and important next steps for advancing development of vaccines against sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including herpes simplex virus (HSV), Neisseria gonorrhoeae (gonorrhea), Chlamydia trachomatis (chlamydia), and Treponema pallidum (syphilis).

Cabotegravir for HIV Prevention in Cisgender Men and Transgender Women

The results of HPTN 083, a trial evaluating the safety and efficacy of the injectable drug cabotegravir (CAB LA), for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in HIV-uninfected cisgender men and transgender women who have sex with men (MSM and TGW), in the New England Journal of Medicine.