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

Avac Event

AIDS 2024: New Ways for the Next Wave: Innovative R&D for the future of women’s prevention

This session will be 9:30AM to 11:00AM Munich time.

Women need a range of HIV prevention options to meet different needs, preferences and life circumstances. Currently available pills, rings and injectables are necessary but insufficient. How might we accelerate the delivery of methods we have while developing additional ones – including systemic and non-systemic methods, short-acting and on-demand products, to complement longer-acting ones? Product developers and advocates are collaborating on new approaches to expedite R&D of additional HIV prevention options. Notably, MATRIX is taking a unique approach, endorsed by the CASPR network of advocates, that aims to improve the odds of success of new products – through development, delivery and use.

This session will focus on new efforts to identify and develop promising options, strategically engage all stakeholders, decolonize R&D and involve potential users in all their diversities throughout the process.

Speakers:

  • Jeanne Marrazzo, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
  • Sharon Hillier, University of Pittsburgh / Magee-Womens Research Institute
  • Thesla Palanee-Phillips, Wits RHI

Followed by a moderated panel with:

  • Chimwemwe Chamdimba, African Medicines Regulatory Harmonization (AMRH) initiative- AUDA/NEPAD
  • Kelly Chibale, Holistic Drug Discovery and Development Centre -H3D, University of Cape Town
  • Nyaradzo Mgodi, University of Zimbabwe- Harare Health Research Centre
  • Jerop Ruth Limo, Ambassador for Youth and Adolescents Reproductive Health Program (AYARHEP)

Moderators:

  • Navita Jain, AVAC
  • Kenneth Ngure, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology

Session Chairs:

  • Sharon Hillier, University of Pittsburgh / Magee-Womens Research Institute
  • Imelda Mahaka, Pangaea Zimbabwe

This satellite session will be co-hosted by CASPR and MATRIX, with support from USAID and PEPFAR.

Avac Event

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

The data we collect on a program determines its path and priorities. This webinar covered the current state of PrEP M&E and efforts to improve and simplify the data we collect, allowing our data to better reflect how people are using PrEP, support PrEP choice amongst the growing array of PrEP methods, and enhance the stories we can tell about PrEP program implementation.

Presenters:

  • Katharine Kripke, Avenir Health, MOSAIC
  • Jessica Williamson, Avenir Health, MOSAIC

Panelists:

  • Omolabake Ekundayo, Ministry of Health Nigeria
  • Dr. Herbert Kadama, Ministry of Health Uganda
  • Ramatsoai Soothoane, Jhpiego, MOSAIC Project Lesotho

Moderator:

  • Adaobi Olisa, FHI360, MOSAIC Project Nigeria

This webinar offered live French and Portuguese translation, courtesy of the South-to-South Learning Network in Africa.

Co-sponsors:

  • BioPIC
  • South-to-South Learning Network
  • The MOSAIC Project

Recording in English / French Audio Recording / Portuguese Audio Recording / Webinar Slides / Strengthening and Harmonising PrEP Indicators

Avac Event

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. This has serious implications for both domestic and foreign policies and programs for our communities and beyond. Building on the experience of the HIV movement in fighting these same far-right forces, this webinar discussed potential responses through the lens of HIV affected communities and programs.

Speakers:

  • Sean Cahill, The Fenway Institute
  • Aleksei Lakhov, EuroNPUD
  • Will Ramirez, Southern AIDS Coalition
  • Beirne Roose-Snyder, Council for Global Equality
  • Olabukunola (Buky) Williams, AKINA MAMA WA AFRIKA

Moderators:

  • Anne-christine d’Adesky, Stop the Coup 2025
  • Allan Maleche, KELIN

Co-sponsors:

  • AVAC
  • European AIDS Treatment Group
  • EuroNPUD
  • The Fenway Institute
  • Funders Concerned About AIDS
  • GSSG Foundation
  • KELIN
  • Southern AIDS Coalition
  • Stop the Coup 2025

Recording / Slides / Resources / Chat

Avac Event

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 necessarily 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, we learned from the Realist Review of Community Engagement and the REAL2 review of participatory research that both examined frameworks for evaluating community engagement efforts, as well as the Global Health Network’s new course on evaluation, and other evaluation efforts in the field of GPP.

Moderator:

  • Jessica Salzwedel, AVAC

Panelists:

  • Alun Davies, The Global Health Network
  • Sassy Molyneux, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust
  • Dr. Robin Vincent, Oxford University

Recording / Alun Davies Slides / Sassy Molyneux Slides / Dr. Robin Vincent Slides

Avac Event

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 Alliance, SMART4TB, and THINK will shared experiences, lessons learned, and innovative approaches in integrating GPP at the organizational, network and situational level, from drug development through delivery.

Moderators:

  • Stacey Hannah, AVAC
  • Dr. Michele Tameris, University of Cape Town

Panelists:

  • Stephanie Seidel, TB Alliance
  • Erica Lessem, SMART4TB
  • Masingita Lambane, THINK

Recording / Stephanie Seidel Slides / Erica Lessem Slides / Masingita Lambane Slides

Avac Event

Illinois PrEP Summit 2024: Disrupting Disparities and Advancing Access

The conference focuses on advancing biomedical HIV prevention to help achieve Getting to Zero by 2030. Key summit goals include improving access, addressing disparities, fostering research and promoting community engagement. Join us for in-person sessions covering strategies, policies and implementation research.

This conference is curated by AFC, MATEC, PrEP4Teens and Project VIDA.

Registration closes, June 7, 2024.

Avac Event

Using the COMPASS Campaign Advocacy Assessment Tool (C-CAAT) to assess the effectiveness of advocacy campaigns

This webinar is for all COMPASS coalition members, partners, stakeholders and individuals taking on advocacy in various fields.

By the end of the webinar participants are expected to have an improved capacity on how to reflect on advocacy outcomes (positive and negative) individually and collectively with relevant stakeholders and partners; enhanced ability to identify, describe and document advocacy outcomes in a clear and structured manner; and an improved capacity to identify follow up actions/tactics needed to achieve the advocacy goal or respond in the event of a setback.

Avac Event

From the Lab to the Jab: Lessons learned and what’s next in HIV vaccine research

AVAC’s issue briefs, From the Lab to the Jab, cover the barriers to, and solutions for equitable access to vaccines in low- and middle-income countries. During this webinar, an expert panel discussed lessons learned, an international initiative for vaccine development, and how research and access can be improved.

Moderators:

  • Mitchell Warren, AVAC
  • Tracy Swan, AVAC and Make Medicines Affordable Campaign

Panelists:

  • Dr. Jerome Kim, International Vaccine Institute
  • Dr. Els Torreele, æqua
  • Othoman Mellouk, International Treatment Preparedness Coalition

Recording / Dr. Jerome Kim Slides / Dr. Els Torreele Slides / Othoman Mellouk Slides