HIV Treatment Outcomes Improving among Transgender People
- Details
- Category: HIV Treatment
- Published on Thursday, 13 June 2013 00:00
- Written by University of Pennsylvania
Transgender people with HIV are now doing as well on antiretroviral therapy (ART) as other patients and achieving similar outcomes, according to a retrospective analysis published in the May 30, 2013, advance edition of Clinical Infectious Diseases.
30 Years of HIV: Long Road Ahead to a Cure
- Details
- Category: Search for a Cure
- Published on Thursday, 13 June 2013 00:00
- Written by Keith Alcorn
Scientists from around the world met to review the future of HIV scientific research at the Institut Pasteur in Paris, last month -- 30 years after the discovery of HIV by a team based at the institute. The prospects for a cure for HIV infection were a major theme of the meeting, which attracted around 500 scientists, chiefly from France and the United States.
Very Early Antiretroviral Therapy Does Not Prevent Immune Activation
- Details
- Category: Search for a Cure
- Published on Wednesday, 15 May 2013 00:00
- Written by Liz Highleyman
People who started antiretroviral therapy (ART) during acute HIV infection and experienced sustained viral suppression saw a substantial decrease in immune activation markers on their CD8 T-cells after 2 years of treatment, but often not to the level seen in HIV negative individuals, according to a report in the April 15, 2013, Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes.
GRACE Survey Sheds Light on Treatment Benefits and Barriers for HIV+ Women
- Details
- Category: Approved HIV Drugs
- Published on Thursday, 06 June 2013 00:00
- Written by Janssen
Caring for children, unemployment, and transportation difficulties were among the factors most likely to lead to poor adherence, early dropout, and suboptimal response to antiretroviral therapy (ART) among participants in the GRACE trial, which tested darunavir (Prezista) in a study population consisting largely of women of color. Overall, they said participation was a positive experience and they would encourage others to join a clinical trial.
Updated Opportunistic Infection Guidelines Add Info on IRIS, Hepatitis, Drug Interactions
- Details
- Category: HIV Treatment Guidelines
- Published on Thursday, 09 May 2013 00:00
- Written by Liz Highleyman
On May 7 the National Institutes of Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and HIV Medicine Association of the Infectious Diseases Society of Americaannounced the release of revised Guidelines for the Prevention and Treatment of Opportunistic Infections in HIV-Infected Adults and Adolescents, updating the previous version from 2009.
Bone Loss and Fracture Risk are 'Modest' among HIV+ People, Linked to Tenofovir, Smoking, and HCV
- Details
- Category: Bone Loss/Osteoporosis
- Published on Thursday, 06 June 2013 00:00
- Written by Liz Highleyman
Continued bone loss among HIV positive men with osteopenia was modest overall, but about 25% of those taking tenofovir (Viread, also in 4 antiretroviral coformulations) experienced significant loss, according to a recent study. A related meta-analysis found that HIV infection is associated with a modest likelihood of new fractures, with smoking and hepatitis C virus (HCV) coinfection further increasing the risk.
Efavirenz More Effective than Nevirapine for Children with HIV
- Details
- Category: Approved HIV Drugs
- Published on Thursday, 09 May 2013 00:00
- Written by Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
HIV positive African children and adolescents treated with efavirenz (Sustiva) were less likely to experience virological failure than those using nevirapine (Viramune), according to a large comparative study published in the May 1, 2013, Journal of the American Medical Association. Nevirapine, however, is less expensive and more widely available for children in low-income countries.
Researchers Discover How HIV Integration into T-Cells Triggers Cell Death
- Details
- Category: HIV Basic Science
- Published on Thursday, 06 June 2013 00:00
- Written by NIAID
Viral integration into CD4 T-cells triggers host cell death by activating DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK), according to study findings published in the June 5, 2013, advance online edition of Nature. Learning how HIV signals infected cells to die may lead to new ways to prevent immune system decline.
FDA Declines Approval of Elvitegravir and Cobicistat as Stand-alone HIV Meds
- Details
- Category: HIV Treatment
- Published on Tuesday, 07 May 2013 00:00
- Written by Liz Highleyman
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has rejected approval of Gilead Sciences' integrase inhibitor elvitegravir and pharmacoenhancer cobicistat -- components of the 4-in-1 Stribild quad pill -- as single agents for treatment of HIV, the company announced last week.
Cobicistat Booster Is a Safe and Effective Alternative to Ritonavir
- Details
- Category: Experimental HIV Drugs
- Published on Thursday, 30 May 2013 00:00
- Written by Liz Highleyman
The novel pharmacoenhancer cobicistat boosts blood levels of atazanavir (Reyataz) as well as ritonavir (Norvir) and is generally safe and well-tolerated over 48 weeks, according to final study results published in the July 1, 2013, Journal of Infectious Diseases.
U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Recommends Routine HIV Screening for Adolescents and Adults
- Details
- Category: HIV Testing & Diagnosis
- Published on Friday, 03 May 2013 00:00
- Written by Liz Highleyman
On April 30 the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) issued a "Grade A," or highest-level, recommendation that all adolescents and adults ages 15 through 65 years should receive routine HIV screening. "These recommendations...reinforce the importance of people everywhere knowing their HIV status and, if positive, accessing care, receiving treatment and other prevention services," said CDC's Jonathan Mermin.
FDA to Hold Public Meeting on Patient-Focused Drug Development and HIV Cure Research
- Details
- Category: HIV Treatment
- Published on Thursday, 30 May 2013 00:00
- Written by FDA
On June 14, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will host a public meeting on patient-focused HIV drug development and cure-related research at its Maryland headquarters, the agency announced this month. Participants are requested to register by June 5.
FDA Approves Efavirenz (Sustiva) for HIV+ Children Ages 3 Months to 3 Years
- Details
- Category: HIV Treatment
- Published on Friday, 03 May 2013 00:00
- Written by Bristol-Myers Squibb
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced on May 3 that it has approved a supplemental new drug application for use of efavirenz (Sustiva) by infants and young children with HIV. The new dosing recommendation includes the option to sprinkling capsule contents on food for children who are unable to swallow pills.
Some Men Shed HIV in Semen Despite ART, Linked to Herpesvirus Coinfection
- Details
- Category: HIV Prevention
- Published on Wednesday, 22 May 2013 00:00
- Written by Liz Highleyman
About 10% of gay men in a U.S. study had detectable HIV in their semen despite suppression of blood plasma viral load with antiretroviral therapy (ART), which has implications for HIV transmission, according to a study described in the April 17, 2013, advance online edition of Clinical Infectious Diseases. Having a low but detectable blood viral load and coinfection with cytomegalovirus or Epstein-Barr virus were associated with increased likelihood of semen HIV shedding.
Atripla Label Adds Drug Interactions with Hepatitis C Protease Inhibitors Boceprevir and Telaprevir
- Details
- Category: HIV Treatment
- Published on Friday, 26 April 2013 00:00
- Written by FDA
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced this week that the product label information for Atripla -- the HIV single-tablet regimen containing efavirenz/tenofovir/emtricitabine -- has been updated to include information about drug-drug interactions with the hepatitis C virus protease inhibitors boceprevir (Victrelis) and telaprevir (Incivek or Incivo).
UNAIDS: More than 7 Million Africans on HIV Treatment, Deaths Continue to Fall
- Details
- Category: HIV Treatment
- Published on Wednesday, 22 May 2013 00:00
- Written by UNAIDS
The number of people in Africa receiving antiretroviral medications increased from less than 1 million in 2005 to an estimated 7.1 million in 2012, according to a new report from UNAIDS. The report also notes that AIDS-related deaths and new HIV infections have both fallen by about 30% over the past decade. 
NIH Halts HIV Vaccine Study Due to Lack of Effectiveness
- Details
- Category: HIV Prevention
- Published on Friday, 26 April 2013 00:00
- Written by NIH
The National Institutes of Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseasesannounced this week that it will halt administration of an experimental HIV vaccine in the HVTN 505 trial, after an interim data analysis found that it neither prevented new HIV infections nor lowered viral load among people who did become infected.
May 19 is National Asian and Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
- Details
- Category: Race/Ethnicity
- Published on Wednesday, 15 May 2013 00:00
- Written by Liz Highleyman
This Sunday, May 19, marks the 9th annual observation of National Asian and Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, an occasion to increase awareness of HIV within these communities and stress the importance of testing and treatment.
Reformulated Tenofovir Gel Found Safe and Acceptable for Anal Sex
- Details
- Category: HIV Prevention
- Published on Friday, 26 April 2013 00:00
- Written by Microbicide Trials Network
Men and women found a microbicide gel containing 1% tenofovir -- which has been shown to reduce the risk of HIV infection during vaginal sex -- to also be acceptable for anal use after it was reformulated to reduce the amount of an ingredient that led to irritation in an earlier study, according to a report in the April 3, 2013, edition of PLoS ONE.
Sangamo Reports Zinc Finger Gene Therapy Leads to Long-term CD4 Cell Gains, Shrinking HIV Reservoirs
- Details
- Category: Search for a Cure
- Published on Wednesday, 15 May 2013 00:00
- Written by Liz Highleyman
An experimental gene therapy technique that modifies CD4 T-cells to protect them from viral entry produced lasting CD4 cell increases with a single infusion, as well as reduction in proviral DNA reservoirs and decreased viral load in 2 patients who underwent antiretroviral therapy (ART) interruption, according to data presented this week at the 16th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Gene and Cell Therapy in Salt Lake City.
Antiretroviral Therapy May Have Protective Effect on HIV+ Children's Hearts
- Details
- Category: HIV Treatment
- Published on Wednesday, 24 April 2013 00:00
- Written by NIH
Long-term use of combination antiretroviral therapy (ART) does not impair heart function in children and adolescents with perinatal HIV infection, and in fact appears to have a "cardioprotective" effect, according to a study published in the April 22, 2013, advance online edition of JAMA Pediatrics.
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