Avac Event

Let’s Talk LEN: What global advances in HIV prevention mean for Black communities in the US

Groundbreaking results from the PURPOSE 1 trial conducted among cisgender Ugandan and South African women have changed the injectable PrEP global landscape. This webinar explored the implications of these findings for US Black populations.

This webinar was co-hosted by PrEP in Black America, Black Public Health, Federal AIDS Policy Partnership (FAPP), AVAC, and APHA.

Recording / Bekker Resource / Campbell Resource

African Networks of People Living with HIV Seek Resource Commitments in the Fight to End HIV

A coalition of African People Living and Affected with HIV released a statement during the 25th International AIDS Conference to extend gratitude to the international community for their contributions in ending the epidemic globally, but also highlighted several concerns including the need for sustained investment, efforts to push for a 5-year PEPFAR reauthorization, and advocating for key populations as they face increased discrimination.

Read the full statement here.

Avac Event

Opportunities to Expand Equitable Access to HIV Prevention Services through Community Pharmacies

RxEACH is a national coalition effort working to expand and sustain access to HIV prevention and linkage to care services in community pharmacies. Community pharmacies are poised to unlock access to HIV prevention services, particularly in areas where it is most needed, and can play a crucial role in achieving equitable PrEP access.

With over half of the 70,000 pharmacies in the U.S. in medically underserved areas and 90% of the U.S. population living within 5 miles of a pharmacy, community pharmacies can serve as vital entry points for essential HIV prevention and linkage to care services – and ensure people can access services in their communities. Broader pharmacy access for prevention services, can empower choice for individuals to choose to receive PrEP and other prevention services in a location that best suits their needs. This webinar discussed the opportunity to expand equitable access to HIV prevention services, including PrEP, and what is needed to grow and sustain community-based HIV prevention service programs in pharmacies.

Moderator:

  • Mike Elizabeth, Equality Federation

Speakers:

  • Natalie Crawford, Emory University
  • Noelle Esquire, Elton John AIDS Foundation
  • Juan Carlos Loubriel, Whitman-Walker Health
  • Tamara McCants, National Pharmaceutical Association
  • Michael Murphy, American Pharmacists Association
  • Sara Zeigler, Courage Forward Strategies

Recording in English / Webinar Slides / Resources

Avac Event

2024 IUSTI World Congress

The International Union Against Sexually Transmitted Infections (IUSTI) and ASHM are pleased to invite you to the 25th IUSTI World Congress, which will this year incorporate the Australasian Sexual and Reproductive Health Conference.

Taking place 17-20 September 2024 at the International Convention Centre in Gadigal Country, Australia, this conference will provide an opportunity to meet, discuss and learn about the latest research and innovation in sexual and reproductive health. The program will incorporate a range of world leading speakers and presentations, providing an opportunity to expand your professional knowledge through local and international insight.

Click here for registration and more info.

Avac Event

2024 STI Prevention Conference

The STI Prevention Conference is a biennial conference that brings together international leading researchers with government experts, clinical STD care providers, and state and local public health administrators. The 2024 STI Prevention Conference is organized by the American Sexual Health Association, the American Sexually Transmitted Diseases Association, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the National Coalition of STD Directors.

Join more than 1,200 conference attendees September 16-19, 2024, in Atlanta, Georgia, for four days of scientific updates and cutting-edge sessions on science, program, and policy.

Click here for registration and more info.

PxPulse: The Advocacy Chronicles with Ruth Akulu

On this episode of the Advocacy Chronicles: a look at advocacy in Uganda for the Dual Prevention Pill (DPP), a new product combining oral PrEP and oral contraception.

Ruth Akulu is a Youth Representative of the Uganda Country Coordinating Mechanism Board for Global Fund, member of the DPP Civil Society Advisory Group, and a 2022 AVAC Advocacy Fellow. Akulu talks about her work to mobilize regulatory authorities to prepare for the DPP. And while she was at it, the establishment of a groundbreaking new initiative, the Product Regulator’s Engagement Committee, which is supporting ongoing engagement between government regulators and young women representing their communities.  

Listen to learn why the DPP is a priority for young women and HIV prevention, the challenges Ruth confronted and tactics that supported the success of this advocacy.

Listen

Resources

PrEP Justice

Updates on the US v. Gilead case and the fight for equitable PrEP access

In a major twist that could potentially result in as much as $1B for equitable PrEP access in the US, the government has just made the decision to appeal last year’s jury verdict in the US v. Gilead case. The Choice Agenda and PrEP4All discussed the origin of US v. Gilead, the reasons for the government appeal, and what the case means for PrEP users in the United States.

Recording / Slides / Resources

Avac Event

PrEP Justice: Updates on the US v. Gilead case and the fight for equitable PrEP access


In a major twist that could potentially result in as much as $1B for equitable PrEP access in the US, the government has just made the decision to appeal last year’s jury verdict in the US v. Gilead case. Following pressure from PrEP4All and HIV/AIDS advocates, the US government originally brought the case in 2019, alleging that Gilead had infringed on PrEP patents held by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and owed royalties to the government. While a jury verdict in May of last year went against the government, the judge in the case overturned a key part of that verdict just this March, setting the stage for a government appeal.

The stakes for communities in need of PrEP access could not be higher. Gilead’s patent infringement and price gouging have sabotaged equitable PrEP access in America. Royalties paid to the government could and should form the basis for a National PrEP Program that would help erase those disparities. Join The Choice Agenda and PrEP4All to discuss the origin of US v. Gilead, the reasons for the government appeal, and what the case means for PrEP users in the United States.

Moderator:

  • Michael Chancley, PrEP4All

Speakers:

  • Chris Morten, Columbia Law School
  • Jeremiah Johnson, PrEP4All

Recording / Slides / Resources

Avac Event

Where’s the Equity? Including People with Disabilities in HIV Prevention Programming and Research

As a movement motivated by health and human rights, the HIV field has collectively been tuning in more than ever to the importance of diversity, equity and inclusion when it comes to HIV prevention programming and research. That said, there seems to be less awareness and effort around the inclusion of people with disabilities in our programs and protocols. Recognizing that “people with disabilities” is an immense group of very diverse people, this webinar helped explore the who, what, where and how involved in acknowledging the importance of including people with disabilities, with concrete ideas for where, how, and with whom we can improve our efforts.

Speakers:

  • Dr. Hannah Kuper, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
  • Tafadzwa Maseva, Zimbabwe Network for Disability
  • Brian Minalga, Office of HIV/AIDS Network Coordination (HANC)
  • Sarah Mwikali, Gifted Community Centre

Moderators:

  • JD Davids, Strategies for High Impact / Long COVID Justice
  • Patriciah Jeckonia, LVCT Health

Recording / Slides / Resources

Upcoming Webinars and a Roundup of New Resources

Last week’s interim result of the PURPOSE 1 HIV prevention study of injectable lenacapavir is captivating headlines. Check out AVAC’s statement here and one from the PURPOSE 1 Global Community Accountability Board and the African Women’s Prevention Community Accountability Board here. But there are LOTS of other things also happening in HIV prevention, and we’re delighted to share this roundup.

Upcoming Webinars

Responding to Project 2025’s Threats to Science, Rights and Resources

Project 2025 is part of an ongoing multi-pronged backlash to the sexual and reproductive health, gender and LGBTQ+ movements. Building on the experience of the HIV movement in fighting these same far-right forces, join this Choice Agenda webinar discussing potential responses through the lens of HIV affected communities and programs. Register here

You Get What You Measure: Why Monitoring for PrEP Choice Helps Tell Our Story

The data collected on a program determines its path and priorities. This Choice Agenda webinar will cover the current state of PrEP monitoring and evaluation, and efforts to improve and simplify data-gathering to better reflect how people use PrEP and to support choice amongst the growing array of PrEP methods. And the discussion will also focus on how data can be used to enhance the stories we tell about PrEP program implementation. Register here

Recordings and Resources

From The Lab To The Jab Webinar and Issue Briefs

Earlier this month, AVAC hosted a webinar highlighting our series of issue briefs, From The Lab To The Jab, covering research and development, mRNA technology, vaccine production, issues relevant to equitable global access to vaccines. The webinar featured panelists from the International Vaccine Institute, International Treatment Preparedness Coalition, and æqua, a think tank focused on equity and economic justice for health. Panelists discussed international initiatives for vaccine development, the current state of vaccine research and access, and how they can be improved. Read more

The GPP Body of Evidence: GPP Monitoring and Evaluation Frameworks, REAL and REAL2

GPP is an essential part of clinical trials research, and an ethical imperative to creating equitable and effective clinical trials. GPP is created by and for communities, so it looks different and takes multiple forms in different cultural contexts. This kind of responsiveness is inherent to GPP, but it also makes it difficult to measure and evaluate. In this webinar, participants will learn from the Realist Review of Community Engagement and the REAL2 review of participatory research. Each examined frameworks for evaluating community engagement efforts. We’ll also learn about the Global Health Network’s new course on evaluation, and other efforts in the field to evaluate the impact of GPP. View the recording

It’s Not Just about the Trial: GPP from discovery to delivery in TB research

GPP enhances every stage of the research lifecycle. In this webinar, our partners at TB AllianceSMART4TB, and THINK shared experiences, lessons learned, and innovative approaches in integrating GPP at the organizational, network and situational level, from drug development through delivery. View the recording

Advocates’ Guide to Doxycycline to Prevent Bacterial STIs (DoxyPEP)

Doxycycline, an oral antibiotic, can be used as a post-exposure prophylaxis, commonly referred to as DoxyPEP, when used to prevent the acquisition of some bacterial STIs after sex. Doxycycline is inexpensive, easily tolerated, and widely available. However, questions remain regarding who will benefit most from DoxyPEP and how to implement this strategy broadly to ensure equitable access and minimize antimicrobial resistance. This guide seeks to explore and address these critical questions. Read the guide

Episode 3: The Promising Science

Our Mitchell Warren speaks to ViiV’s Kimberly Smith in this episode of the Foreign Policy podcast series ‘can we end epidemics?’ about the future of HIV science and the challenges we need to overcome on our journey to finding a cure. Listen

We hope these conversations and resources are helpful in your advocacy. Stay tuned for our upcoming advocates’ primer on lenacapavir and our roadmap to the AIDS 2024 conference in Munich.