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Positively Positive - Living with HIV/AIDS:
HIV/AIDS News Archive - October 2021
Lung function declines faster in people living with HIV
30 October 2021 - Alain Volny-Anne - A study at the 18th European AIDS Conference (EACS 2021) showed that people living with HIV who receive effective antiretroviral therapy have a faster rate of lung function decline than HIV-negative people.
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Forty years later, Mercer professors continue fight against AIDS epidemic
October 29, 2021 - Jennifer Falk - This year marks the 40th anniversary of the nation’s first reported cases of the disease that would later become known as AIDS.
Over the past four decades, Mercer University professors have contributed to the research of the disease while providing education to the community and compassionate care for those living with it.
Today, contracting HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, is no longer a death sentence, and with proper treatment, people with HIV can live long, fulfilling lives.
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Price Controls Could Slow the Race to an HIV Vaccine
OCTOBER 28 2021 - By Brandon Ellyson - Well-meaning legislation may have a chilling effect on a long-sought HIV cure.
Johnson & Johnson recently announced that its experimental HIV vaccine failed to prevent infections in clinical trials. The news comes as a big disappointment to public health activists and patients around the globe.
But there's still cause for optimism. Moderna just started testing its own HIV vaccine, based on the same mRNA technology used in its highly effective COVID-19 shot. And Johnson & Johnson continues to work on a different HIV vaccine. If one of these inoculations proves successful, the plague that has taken 32 million lives so far could finally end.
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Playbill Will Present Remember the Ribbon: A Tribute to World AIDS Day Streaming Concert
Oct 28, 2021 - BY DAN MEYER - To commemorate World AIDS Day, Playbill will present the live concert Remember the Ribbon: A Tribute to World AIDS Day. The performance will stream December 1-3 after being filmed at Sony Hall in NYC.
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New cases of multi-drug resistant HIV becoming rarer in Europe
28 October 2021 - Keith Alcorn - Resistance to all four main classes of antiretrovirals is becoming rarer among people with HIV in western Europe, a seven-country study presented at the 18th European AIDS Conference (EACS 2021) shows.
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NIH Researchers Identify How Two People Controlled HIV After Stopping Treatment
October 28, 2021 - Different Mechanisms Suppressed the Virus in Each Person
Research led by scientists at the National Institutes of Health has identified two distinct ways that people with HIV can control the virus for an extended period after stopping antiretroviral therapy (ART) under medical supervision. This information could inform efforts to develop new tools to help people with HIV put the virus into remission without taking lifelong medication, which can have long-term side-effects.
ViiV Healthcare announces European Commission Decision for Vocabria (cabotegravir) and Rekambys (rilpivirine) injections to be initiated with or without an oral lead-in period for the long-acting treatment of HIV
London, 28 October 2021 - Healthcare professionals and people living with HIV now have the choice of starting long-acting treatment with the oral initiation phase or starting injections directly
ViiV Healthcare, the global specialist HIV company majority owned by GlaxoSmithKline plc (“GSK”), with Pfizer Inc. and Shionogi Limited as shareholders, announced that the European Commission has granted a decision to update the Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) for Vocabria (cabotegravir injections and tablets) and Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson’s Rekambys (rilpivirine long-acting injectable suspension) giving healthcare professionals and people living with HIV the option to start with injections, without the need for an oral lead-in of cabotegravir and rilpivirine. Oral cabotegravir and rilpivirine can be taken for a month to assess tolerability to the medicines, which is now optional with the SmPC update. The data showed that both initiation routes have similar safety and efficacy profiles.
ViiV Healthcare presents positive interim data showing Vocabria (cabotegravir) and Rekambys (rilpivirine), the first long-acting HIV-treatment regimen, can be implemented successfully in a variety of European healthcare settings
London, 28 October 2021 - The CARISEL study showed most people living with HIV who started treatment felt positive about the long-acting regimen, a sentiment shared by healthcare teams
ViiV Healthcare, the global specialist HIV company majority owned by GlaxoSmithKline plc (“GSK”), with Pfizer Inc. and Shionogi Limited as shareholders, today presented positive interim data from the CARISEL (Cabotegravir and Rilpivirine Implementation Study in European Locations) study, which was initiated and conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study evaluated perspectives of healthcare teams and people living with HIV, through surveys and interviews, around the implementation of Vocabria (cabotegravir injection) and Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson’s Rekambys (rilpivirine long-acting injectable suspension ) administered every 2-months, with data showing that implementation of the long-acting regimen is realistic and achievable in a variety of European healthcare settings.[i] ,[ii] ,[iii] Interim findings were presented at the 18th European AIDS Conference (EACS 2021) being held 27-30 October.
Durham nail salon must pay HIV-positive customer after discrimination
OCTOBER 27, 2021 - BY JOSH SHAFFER - A Durham nail salon discriminated against an HIV-positive customer by denying him pedicures and must pay $7,500 in compensation, according to a settlement with the U.S. government.
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Case Western Reserve receives $16 million federal grant to launch major research center on substance use and HIV
October 27, 2021 - The use of opioids, methamphetamines, cocaine and other stimulants is the second-most common cause of exposure to HIV among those in the United States diagnosed with the virus that causes AIDS.
Thanks to a new $16 million, five-year grant from the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health, Case Western Reserve is launching a multi-institutional research effort dedicated to deepening understanding of the relationship between substance use and HIV.
New cases of hepatitis C have fallen among gay and bisexual men with HIV in France
26 October 2021 - Keith Alcorn - The rate of new hepatitis C infections halved among gay and bisexual men with HIV in France between 2014 and 2017 following the introduction of direct-acting antivirals, a French cohort study has reported.
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What to know about HIV retinopathy
October 26, 2021 - HIV attacks a specific type of immune cell called the CD4 helper cell or T cell. When these cell numbers decrease, the body finds it more difficult to fight infections. This can lead to several complications, including HIV retinopathy.
Because of their compromised immune systems, HIV-positive people are more likely to experience opportunistic infections or cancers that do not typically cause illness in other people.
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‘Sexually Risky?’, asks New AHF Billboard Campaign
October 26, 2021 - by Ged Kenslea - During the COVID-19 pandemic, researchers found there was less STI testing happening, but more cases found
To promote awareness of HIV and STI prevention, testing and treatment services, AHF is launching ‘Sexually Risky?’ a new billboard and ad campaign encouraging at-risk individuals to get tested, treated and into care, if needed
Despite pandemic-related lockdowns over the past 20 months limiting in-person contact and isolating many people, AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), found notable increases in STI incidence in its free STI and HIV testing programs. In response, AHF is launching “Sexually Risky?”, a new nationwide awareness and advocacy ad campaign to encourage sexually active and/or potentially at-risk people to get tested for STIs, including HIV.
'Would I Live or Would I Die?'
Fall 2021 - Dahn Hiuni [BFA(Hons)/88] is a Los Angeles-based playwright, visual artist and academic, with plays produced in New York and art exhibited widely in the U.S., Canada and abroad. His most recent show, The AIDS Portfolio, offers a decades-long retrospective of his HIV-related work.
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Gilead and Merck Initiate Phase 2 Study Evaluating an Oral Weekly Combination Regimen of Investigational Lenacapavir and Investigational Islatravir for HIV-1 Treatment in Virologically Suppressed Adults
October 26, 2021 - FOSTER CITY, Calif. & KENILWORTH, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- – This Clinical Study is the First from Merck and Gilead’s Collaboration to Develop Potential Long-Acting HIV Treatment Options –
Gilead Sciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: GILD) and Merck (NYSE: MRK), known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, today announced the start of a Phase 2 clinical study evaluating an investigational once-weekly oral combination treatment regimen of islatravir and lenacapavir in people living with HIV who are virologically suppressed on antiretroviral therapy.
GTA-based HIV self-testing research study launches to reach African, Caribbean and Black communities facing barriers to HIV testing and care, including those created by COVID-19
TORONTO, Oct. 25, 2021 /CNW/ - The study will provide culturally appropriate HIV engagement and counselling to 2,500 ACB people in Toronto through access to HIV self-testing kits and connections to care
The new HIV Self-Testing Community Outreach and Localized Outcomes (SOLO) Study will improve access to HIV testing for Greater Toronto Area (GTA) African, Caribbean and Black (ACB) communities, and collect data on the number of new HIV infections that are discovered. SOLO will also ensure connections to care for participants, and measure the degree to which the study's approach reduces stigma and health inequities.
SOLO is led by Women's Health in Women's Hands (WHIWH) in partnership with REACH Nexus, part of the MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions at St. Michael's Hospital, and the Canadian Foundation for AIDS Research (CANFAR).
UNAIDS welcomes New Zealand’s decision to lift travel restrictions for people living with HIV
GENEVA, 25 October 2021 - UNAIDS welcomes the announcement by New Zealand that it has removed all travel restrictions for people living with HIV. The recent decision by Immigration New Zealand to remove HIV from the list of medical conditions deemed likely to impose significant costs or demands on New Zealand’s health services means that the blanket ban for people living with HIV to get a resident visa has officially been removed.
“I commend New Zealand for taking this important step and hope that it will encourage other countries to remove all travel restrictions and other policies that discriminate against people living with HIV,” said UNAIDS Executive Director, Winnie Byanyima.
What are the statistics for AIDS and HIV around the world?
October 24, 2021 - HIV is a major global public health issue. It is the virus that causes AIDS.
AIDS-related conditions have claimed the lives of more than 36 million people around the world. Worldwide, infection rates in 2020 were 37.7 million. Some areas of the world have higher rates of infection. Most people with HIV live in low and middle income countries.
Making a global commitment to reducing the transmission of HIV and improving access to HIV treatments are necessary steps in controlling the epidemic.
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COVID-19 risks explained with new tool
24-OCT-2021 - A calculator to help people understand their risk factors for COVID-19 infection and vaccination has been launched by the Immunisation Coalition in collaboration with Australian researchers
"This tool is really designed to help people make an informed decision around vaccination based on their current circumstances and also see their risk for getting COVID-19 under different transmission scenarios," Dr Short said.
'It's so overdue': Advocates relieved Manitoba now covering HIV prevention drug after years of pressure
Oct 23, 2021 - Manitoba was only Canadian jurisdiction not yet covering pre-exposure prophylaxis, commonly known as PrEP
Sexual and community health experts are relieved the Manitoba government has agreed to cover the cost of a drug that prevents HIV after years of reluctance to do so.
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‘Game changer’: Advocates celebrate Manitoba’s move to cover HIV preventing drug
WINNIPEG - Oct. 23, 2021 - Mason DePatie - Advocates are celebrating the Manitoba government's move to cover the cost of a drug that helps prevent HIV, but believe more work is needed.
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Researchers in Uganda Start Trials for HIV Injectable Drug
KAMPALA, UGANDA - OCTOBER 22, 2021 - Uganda has kickstarted a trial for the injectable HIV drugs cabotegravir and rilpivirine. Researchers and those living with HIV say the trial will likely end pill fatigue, fight stigma, improve adherence and ensure patients get the right dosage.
The two drugs have been in use as tablets. The World Health Organization last year licensed their use as injectables.
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National Day of Action to End Violence Against Women Living With HIV 2021
October 22, 2021 -By Trenton Straube - Watch this discussion about HIV, women and intimate partner violence, and listen to a PWN-USA podcast on decriminalization.
Saturday, October 23, marks the eighth annual National Day of Action to End Violence Against Women Living With HIV, which is spearheaded by the Positive Women’s Network–USA (PWN-USA).
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THE FAST-TRACK CITIES 2021 CONFERENCE RECOGNIZES EXCELLENCE AMONG CITIES, ALLIES, SPONSORS
Lisbon, Portugal (October 22, 2021) –
Five awards recognize excellence among cities striving to end their urban HIV epidemics.
Three additional awards made to a community partner and two corporate partners.
A Lifetime Achievement Award granted to former US PEPFAR Amb. Deborah L. Birx, MD.
The Fast-Track Cities Institute recognized excellence among cities, allies, and sponsors by handing out nine awards at the Fast-Track Cities 2021 conference, hosted by the International Association of Providers of AIDS Care (IAPAC), in partnership with the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS). The awards recognized five Fast-Track Cities, a community partner, and two corporate sponsors. Additionally, a Lifetime Achievement Award was given to the former head of the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).
National AIDS Memorial Grove’s ‘The Berlin Patient’ Boulder
OCTOBER 21, 2021 - Timothy Ray Brown was an American considered to be the first person cured of HIV/AIDS. He had been diagnosed with HIV while studying abroad in 1995, and later developed acute myeloid leukemia. In 2008, he was declared to be “The Berlin Patient” at the 2008 Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections. He underwent two stem cell transplantations, and while he never again tested positive for HIV, his leukemia relapsed and Brown died at the age of 54 on September 29, 2020.
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Covid-19 killed more people in US than HIV/AIDS did in 40 years
OCTOBER 21, 2021 - Patrick DeHahn - Covid-19 has now killed about 730,000 people in the US, making it the deadliest pandemic in the nation's history, with more lives claimed than by HIV/Aids.
The tally comes as the US marks four decades since HIV — the virus that can cause Aids — was first detected in the country, and some are now looking at the two vastly different diseases and seeing parallels.
The US government's initial approach to both HIV/Aids and Covid was denial and indifference.
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Virtual Village Treats HIV-associated Loneliness in Novel UC San Diego Health Trial
October 21, 2021 | Corey Levitan - Most patients are living longer, but without support groups
A new clinical trial designed by Maile Young Karris, MD, internal medicine physician and infectious disease specialist at UC San Diego Health, seeks to discover whether people living with HIV can benefit from emotional support offered by a virtual community, and from physical support and services delivered by community volunteers.
According to a study of 356 patients with HIV, published in the journal AIDS and Behavior in November 2017, 58 percent reported symptoms of loneliness, which has been associated with functional decline and increased mortality risk.
Stonewall National Museum & Archives Opens Mis-Information Exhibition
FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA, UNITED STATES, October 21, 2021 /EINPresswire.com/ -- True and not-so-true early information about AIDS
Stonewall National Museum & Archives (SNMA) is pleased to announce the opening of Mis-Information - True and not-so-true early information about AIDS on October 21, 2021, from 6:30-8pm in the Charles Ross Gallery. The free opening will include a curatorial talk by SNMA Executive Director, Hunter O’Hanian.
“In this exhibition,” says SNMA Executive Director, “we go back to the 1980s and 1990s when HIV/AIDS was first brought to the public’s attention and examine the facts and falsehoods which shaped culture’s ideas about who was at risk for AIDS, as well as its prevention, and treatment. We drew on our collection of early AIDS books. They form a collection removed from our public library because they contain factual errors, which we would not want to get in the hands of someone seeking accurate information about AIDS and its impact. We also look at how some of these rumors were spread through the gay press. We are hopeful that as people look at how mis-information was spread then, they might make better choices today with regard to the spread and treatment of Covid.”
Activist remembers early meetings with Fauci about HIV/AIDS
OCTOBER 21, 2021 - CNN - Peter Staley explains his decades long activism for HIV/AIDS, and how his relationship evolved with Dr. Anthony Fauci. Watch "Full Circle" every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 6pm E.T.
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Gilead Presents Long-Term Switch Data Reinforcing Biktarvy® as a Treatment Option for a Broad Range of People Living With HIV
October 21, 20, 2021 - FOSTER CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- – Analysis of Real-World Data in People Living With HIV in the International BICSTaR Study to be Presented at EACS 2021 Also Confirm the Long-Term Efficacy and Safety Profile of Biktarvy –
Gilead Sciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: GILD) today announced the company’s upcoming contributions to the 18th European AIDS Conference (EACS 2021), taking place virtually and onsite in London from October 27-30. Forty-four studies from Gilead’s HIV research and development programs will be presented, including data from the global, observational, real-world BICSTaR study, which along with Gilead’s community-focused programs, reflect the company’s ongoing focus and commitment to advancing scientific discovery and supporting the development and delivery of practical solutions that can help improve care for all people affected by HIV.
Pandemic accelerated ‘out of the box’ efforts to raise awareness about HIV in the Latino community
OCTOBER 21, 2021 - Jannelle Calderon - When COVID-19 emerged and threw the world into upheaval, efforts to suppress other viruses became more complicated.
The Southern Nevada HIV Awareness Coalition and its partners, for instance, halted some outreach activities, canceled events and moved support meetings to Zoom. But the Southern Nevada Health District launched a Spanish-language telephone line during the pandemic to direct people to the services they needed. It was a step toward breaking down information barriers — compounded by coronavirus-related shutdowns — affecting the Latino community and, thus, preventing the spread of HIV.
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HIV-positive people ‘fearful’ of therapists as critical NHS mental health failings exposed
OCTOBER 21, 2021 - PATRICK KELLEHER - Public mental health services in the UK are failing to adequately support people who are living with HIV due to a lack of knowledge and understanding about the virus, a new report has found.
The study, which was conducted by the National AIDS Trust and was published on Thursday (21 October), investigated the effectiveness of the Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) services for those living with HIV. The IAPT programme, which was launched in 2008, has “transformed the treatment of adult anxiety disorders and depression in England”, according to the NHS.
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Einstein-Developed Treatment Strategy May Lead to HIV Cure
October 21, 2021 - (BRONX, NY) - Proteins designed to focus immune attack on HIV-infected cells
Armed with a novel strategy they developed for bolstering the body’s immune response, scientists at Albert Einstein College of Medicine have successfully suppressed HIV infections in mice—offering a path to a functional cure for HIV and other chronic viral infections. Their findings were published today in the Journal of Clinical Investigation.
HIV Preventative Developed in LiWang Lab Takes One Big Step Forward
October21, 2021 - By Lorena Anderson, UC Merced - An HIV-inhibiting silk film designed to advance prevention and help end the AIDS epidemic in countries in Africa, developed by UC Merced Professor Patti LiWang, has met recent success at the California National Primate Research Center at UC Davis.
“They show complete protection,” LiWang said. “The films worked perfectly on the macaques at Davis.”
Penn Medicine Study Finds Red Blood Cells Play Much Larger Role in Immune System Through Discovery of DNA-Binding Capability
October 20, 2021 - PHILADELPHIA - Researchers uncover mechanism of how red blood cells detect and bind DNA, opening door to new area of research for treatment of inflammatory diseases
New research has revealed that red blood cells function as critical immune sensors by binding cell-free DNA, called nucleic acid, present in the body’s circulation during sepsis and COVID-19, and that this DNA-binding capability triggers their removal from circulation, driving inflammation and anemia during severe illness and playing a much larger role in the immune system than previously thought. Scientists have long known that red blood cells, which are essential in delivering oxygen throughout the body, also interacted with the immune system, but didn’t know whether they directly altered inflammation, until now. The study, led by researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, was published today in Science Translational Medicine.
Less talk, more action: New report sponsored by ViiV Healthcare provides roadmap to achieve health equity by 2040
London, 20 October 2021 - Report from Economist Impact offers key actions to overcome the barriers that have blocked progress in achieving health equity across HIV, STIs, mental health, and COVID-19ViiV Healthcare today announced the release of Achieving health equity: a roadmap to eliminating disparities, a new report conducted by Economist Impact, a division of The Economist Group, that explores the opportunities that could be created by eliminating health disparities in the UK and US over the next 20 years, while charting a bold course for unified action. The report, sponsored by ViiV Healthcare, the global specialist HIV company majority owned by GlaxoSmithKline plc (GSK), with Pfizer Inc. and Shionogi Limited as shareholders, breaks from previous efforts by laying out a roadmap that identifies the role of individual groups in achieving health equity and describes the concrete actions they can take to address disparities.
ZAMBAMA grant leverages “reverse innovation” to reduce unhealthy alcohol use and improve HIV outcomes
October 19, 2021 - At first glance, there may appear to be few similarities between Zambia, a landlocked country in southern Africa, and rural Alabama. Apart from the 8,000 miles of space between them, however, the two regions are both dealing with longstanding HIV epidemics, widespread poverty, and significant barriers to accessing medical care and public health services. Another similarity is the prevalence of alcohol use disorders, substance use disorders and mental health conditions, all of which can contribute to the spread of HIV.
Partnering with Traditional Healers Improves Uptake of HIV Tests in Rural Uganda
OCTOBER 19, 2021 - Collaborating with traditional healers to deliver point-of-care HIV tests to individuals in rural Uganda quadrupled testing rates compared with standard referrals to HIV clinics, according to a trial by Weill Cornell Medicine and Mbarara University of Science and Technology investigators. The healer-delivered HIV testing model has the potential to significantly improve the uptake of HIV testing among hard-to-reach populations in HIV-endemic regions of sub-Saharan Africa, as well as improve rates of linkage to HIV care.
New $13.8M center at U-M will study infectious disease, pandemic preparedness
October 19, 2021 - As researchers around the world continue to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, most agree on one issue: If history is any indication, there’s another pandemic coming.
“Since 2000, we’ve had three coronaviruses that are new to humans cause outbreaks or the current pandemic. And we’ve had three influenza viruses try to make the jump from animals to humans, and one succeeded, said Aubree Gordon, an infectious disease expert at the University of Michigan School of Public Health. “So what’s the likelihood that we see another pandemic in our lives? I’ll say the likelihood is pretty high.”
Boris Johnson criticised for confusing HIV and AIDS again: ‘Ignorance leads to fear and stigma’
OCT 19, 2021 - PATRICK KELLEHER - Boris Johnson is facing criticism after he mixed up HIV and AIDS while speaking about vaccines and advances in medical research.
The prime minister made his remarks during an address to 200 business leaders at a Global Investment Summit held at the Science Museum on Tuesday morning (19 October).
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Shawn Lang, tireless advocate and voice for the marginalized, dies: ‘Generations to come will benefit from her advocacy’
OCT 19, 2021 - By SUSAN DUNNE - The Connecticut activism and LGBT communities are grieving the sudden death on Sunday of Shawn Lang, a longtime advocate for state residents living with HIV and AIDS, as well as those with opioid addictions, survivors of domestic violence and people experiencing housing insecurity.
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THE PASSING OF A PIONEER
Oct 18, 2021 - By Rick Guasco - HIV and aging advocate Stephen Karpiak has passed
An early leader in the research of aging and HIV, Stephen Karpiak, PhD, passed on Oct. 16. In a career that spanned more than two decades, his research led to a shift in the care for people living with HIV, drawing attention to their needs.
Since 2017, he had been senior director for applied and translational research at GMHC’s Center on HIV & Aging, and was the founding director of GMHC’s National Resource Center on HIV and Aging.
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Where science and social justice meet: Emory researcher awarded for HIV work
Woodruff Health Sciences Center | Oct. 18, 2021 - ATLANTA - Emory physician-scientist Colleen Kelley was awarded the HIV Medicine Association’s 2021 Award for Excellence in HIV Research. The award was presented to Kelley during the Infectious Disease Society of America conference.
SF AIDS grove memorializes Brown, 1st person cured of AIDS
Oct. 18, 2021 - by David-Elijah Nahmod - The National AIDS Memorial Grove has memorialized Timothy Ray Brown, who was the first person cured of AIDS, with a boulder at the contemplative space in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park.
Brown, also known as the Berlin Patient, was remembered at a short gathering October 16. He died September 29, 2020 after battling a recurrence of leukemia.
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Enochian BioSciences Announces the Successful Completion of an FDA Pre-IND for a Potential Cure for HIV: The Second Pre-IND in 1 month
LOS ANGELES, October 18, 2021 (NASDAQ: ENOB) - Company encouraged by clear path to IND in near-term following its review of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research written comments
Enochian BioSciences, Inc., a company focused on gene-modified cellular and immune therapies in infectious diseases and cancer, today announced the completion of an Investigator Pre-Investigational New Drug (IND) process following receipt of written comments from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER) Office of Tissues and Advanced Therapies (OTAT).
Dolutegravir Trumps Other HIV Meds in Cutting Viral Load—Even With Missed Doses
October 18, 2021 - By Heather Boerner - Compared to other common HIV treatments, dolutegravir-based regimens maintained viral suppression even without perfect adherence.
With antiretroviral (ARV) drugs for HIV, it’s best never to miss a dose. And in the past, missing doses could lead to blips in detectable viral load and even drug-resistance mutations. But research published in Open Forum Infectious Diseases suggests that this may not as common with dolutegravir.
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FDA expands approval of Biktarvy to include younger children with HIV
October 18, 2021 - Johannesburg:Gilead Sciences said the FDA has approved a new low-dose tablet form of its HIV drug Biktarvy for pediatric patients weighing at least 14 kg to less than 25 kg who are virologically suppressed or new to ART.
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South Africa Rejects Russian Sputnik V Covid Vaccine Over HIV Fears
October 18, 2021 - Johannesburg:The decision was based on earlier studies testing the safety of a modified form of adenovirus -- a type of virus that causes respiratory infections -- known as the Ad5 and contained in the Russian jab.
South Africa's health products regulator on Monday said it would not approve Russia's Sputnik V Covid-19 vaccine due to concerns it could increase the risk of HIV infection among men.
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Memorial boulder of 1st person known to be cured of HIV unveiled in California
October 17, 2021 - SAN FRANCISCO - A tribute now stands at the The "National AIDS Memorial Grove" in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco in memory of the first person to be cured of HIV.
A memorial boulder was dedicated to Timothy Ray Brown on Saturday.
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‘Be A Lifeline’: AIDS Walk Philly Raises Awareness, Funds In 35th Annual Event
October 17, 2021 - By Wakisha Bailey - PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - The 35th annual AIDS Walk Philly raised more money for our neighbors living with HIV AIDS. Raising awareness about HIV AIDS is more important than ever.
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Windsor Regional Hospital's HIV program marks 30 years
Oct 17, 2021 - HIV has gone from a 'death sentence' to 'one pill once a day' for local patients, doctor says
The HIV care program at Windsor Regional Hospital is now 30 years old, and in that time, things have changed dramatically for patients.
The clinic opened on Oct. 15, 1991, at the Met Campus in the southwestern Ontario city. The program, currently located at 1275 Walker Rd., offers treatment to people with HIV-AIDS, along with testing.
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Nine Circles fears HIV increased in Manitoba during COVID-19, petitions province
October 16, 2021 - By Sean Ledwich - A drop in HIV testing, along with an increase in risky behaviour associated with HIV spread, has sparked fears that a spike in HIV infections could be going undetected in Manitoba.
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Metabolic restoration in HIV-infected patients as a therapeutic approach
October 14, 2021 | Audrey-Maude Vézina - Increasing the energy supply of immune cells is an important therapeutic approach to promote natural immune protection against HIV.
The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) particularly attacks CD4 lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell considered to be the conductor of the immune system. Hamza Loucif, a doctoral student in virology and immunology, and Julien van Grevenynghe, a professor at the Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS), have shown that optimizing the energy metabolism of these key cells enables people with HIV-1 to better defend themselves against the virus. Indeed, with better metabolism, the role of these white blood cells in protecting against the virus, and thus in improving the overall immune system response, becomes more important.
Some people with HIV may have weaker response to COVID-19 vaccines
14 October 2021 - Liz Highleyman - People living with HIV had lower than expected antibody levels after receiving the Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccines, according to study results presented last week at the virtual IDWeek meeting. Those with a detectable viral load or a low CD4 T-cell count were at greater risk for diminished response, supporting a third vaccine dose for these individuals.
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Dr. Anthony Fauci and Philadelphia FIGHT’s Jane Shull Receive Wistar Legacy Award at 25th Anniversary of Jonathan Lax Memorial Lecture
PHILADELPHIA - (October 14, 2021) - Virtual event celebrates local HIV research and advocacy influencers/communities that paved way for global HIV impact
The Wistar Institute is proud to announce Anthony S. Fauci, M.D., director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health (NIH); Jane Shull, chief executive officer of Philadelphia FIGHT; philanthropist Ken Nimblett; Philadelphia Foundation and the Robert I. Jacobs Fund; and Philadelphia FIGHT will be honored at the Wistar Legacy Awards, a celebration of 25 years of continuous HIV research collaboration on Thursday, October 28 from 5:30 to 7:45 p.m.
IDWeek 2021: CD4 Count and Vaccine Type Predict COVID Vaccine Effectiveness For People Living With HIV
Oct. 13, 2021 - Larry Buhl - A higher CD4+ count, suppressed viral load, and receiving the Moderna vaccine over Pfizer were factors associated with greater protection from infection from the SARS-CoV-2 virus among people living with HIV (PLWH), according to data presented last week at the 2021 virtual IDWeek conference, held by the Infectious Diseases Society of America and other leading infectious disease organizations.
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Why Do Some Elite Controllers Stop Controlling HIV?
October 13, 2021 - By Jeffrey Laurence, M.D. - A small minority of people living with HIV can suppress their viral load to levels at which the risk of HIV transmission and disease development are very low—all in the absence of antiretroviral therapy. Defining the mechanisms of such control may be key to understanding how we might replicate this “functional cure” in others. Unfortunately, each year some 1-2% of HIV controllers lose this ability. Understanding why may contribute to our understanding of which elements are vital to maintaining elite control of HIV.
The History of HIV and AIDS in the United States
October 12, 2021 - The earliest cases of HIV
HIV, the virus that can lead to AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome), remains one of the largest epidemics in the world today.
AIDS was first identified in the United States in 1981Trusted Source.
In 1984, 3 years after scientists identified AIDS, they discovered its cause: HIV.
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No one's telling the stories of HIV-positive Black women. In the pandemic, they need more support.
Oct 12, 2021 - Jallicia Jolly - The first HIV cases were reported in the United States 40 years ago. Decades later, the more than 1 million people with HIV in the United States are contending with the coronavirus pandemic — which has not only laid bare preexisting inequities, but has also undermined recent progress to provide access to HIV/AIDS medicines and treatments, as well as reproductive health and services. For HIV-positive Black girls and women, particularly those who are immigrants, the setbacks are significant.
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AIDS Memorial Quilt Once Again to Be Displayed in Person
October 11, 2021 - By Trenton Straube - During COVID-19 lockdowns, blocks of the AIDS Quilt were shown only virtually. Now, they’re also available for in-person displays.
After a hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, blocks of the AIDS Memorial Quilt are once again available to be displayed at in-person events, according to the Quilt’s custodian, the National AIDS Memorial.
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Letterman Hospital and the HIV Epidemic
October 11, 2021 - The 1970s saw an increase in LGBTQ+ activism in San Francisco. Many people leading the charge were veterans like Gilbert Baker, Ken Jones, Harvey Milk, and more. Activists, and writers Barbara Cameron and Pat Parker demanded intersectionality in the movement. Veteran Pat Norman pioneered LGBTQ+ representation in health care as the first openly gay employee with the San Francisco Health Department from 1978-1987 and as the first Coordinator for Lesbian/Gay Health Services. The fight for better health care for LGBTQ people became even more crucial when the HIV epidemic began.
Review: Peter Staley’s Memoir “Never Silent” is a Real Life Thriller
October 11, 2021 - By Mark S. King - Activist Peter Staley’s much-anticipated new memoir, Never Silent, opens with almost unbearable nail-biting suspense, sweeping us into the behind-the-scenes machinations of an ACT UP takeover of the New York Stock Exchange at opening bell. It’s legitimately dangerous, timed to the second, and absolutely thrilling, written with the intensity of a spy novel.
ENGLAND TO REMOVE ANOTHER 'DISCRIMINATORY' BARRIER TO BLOOD DONATION
Oct. 10, 2021 - By Sarah Dean - England is set to remove an "outdated, unnecessary and actively discriminatory" question from blood donor forms, which campaigners say has predominantly affected Black communities' ability to give blood.
It comes after UK-wide changes in June made it easier for sexually active gay and bisexual men to give blood -- overturning a ban that originated during the HIV/AIDS epidemic of the 1980s and had been decried as homophobic for years.
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Opinion: Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center must be renamed to reflect hospital’s values
Oct. 10, 2021 - By Sophia Kloster - As one of the top-performing hospitals in the country, Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center has only grown in importance during the COVID-19 pandemic.
But at the moment, it bears the name of someone who recklessly discarded the health of tens of thousands of people during a similarly nightmarish public health crisis – the AIDS epidemic.
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David Zwirner is Showing Abstract Paintings by Jesse Murry, Part of Series of Exhibitions Dedicated to Artists Who Died During HIV/AIDS Crisis
Oct 8, 2021 - by VICTORIA L. VALENTINE - MARKING THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issuing its first report about what would become known as AIDS, David Zwirner is presenting More Life, a special series dedicated to artists who died from HIV/AIDS-related ailments during the first two decades of the epidemic.
Since June, the gallery has been staging exhibitions of Jesse Murry, Marlon Riggs, Derek Jarman, Mark Morrisroe, Frank Moore, Ching Ho Cheng, and the collective Silence=Death, that continue through this fall.
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Prevalence of Noncalcified Coronary Plaques and CAC in People Living With HIV
Oct 8, 2021 - Lauren Biscaldi
- People living with HIV had a higher prevalence of noncalcified coronary plaques compared with HIV-negative individuals. Coronary artery calcification (CAC) prevalence, however, was similar between groups regardless of HIV status. These results were published in the Journal of the American Heart Association.
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Treating Anal Cancer Precursor Lesions Reduces Cancer Risk for People With HIV
October 8, 2021 - Groundbreaking National Clinical Trial Halted Due to Therapy’s High Success Rates
Treating precursor anal cancer lesions can significantly reduce the risk of progression to full blown anal cancer among people living with HIV, according to results of a large, phase 3 study led by researchers at UC San Francisco.
How Peter Staley Kept AIDS Denialism Out of “Dallas Buyers Club”
October 8, 2021 - By Trenton Straube - ACT UP activist Peter Staley reveals that story behind the Oscar-winning AIDS film in his memoir, Never Silent.
What better way to honor LGBTQ History Month than with the release of Peter Staley’s new memoir. Titled Never Silent: ACT UP and My Life in Activism and featuring a foreword by Anderson Cooper, the book goes on sale Tuesday, October 12, though excerpts, reviews and interviews have been making headlines in the HIV/AIDS world and mainstress press for several weeks.
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Reflections on 40 years of HIV/AIDS: Community members compare epidemic to COVID-19 pandemic
Oct 8, 2021 - Ema Sasic
- Hundreds of packages handed out encouraging people to be safe whether 'going out' or 'going in'
Researchers at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU) and Université de Montréal, Canada have discovered a way to potentially eliminate HIV-1 infection in infected individuals by using a new type of antibody-based therapeutics, according to a new study published Sept. 28 in mBio.
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18th European AIDS Conference | October 27-30, 2021 | Online & London 2021
Oct 7, 2021 - European AIDS Clinical Society - We have been apart for too long, so let’s reconnect with colleagues and friends, exchange and learn about the latest advances.
The 18th European AIDS Conference (#EACS2021) from October 27-30, 2021, in London and online around the world!
Host of 'Making Gay History' reflects on coming of age during the AIDS crisis
October 7, 2021- NPR's Ari Shapiro talks with Eric Marcus, the host of the podcast Making Gay History, about his audio memoir on coming of age during the AIDS crisis of the 1980s.
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Action needed to address cancer risk among young people with HIV
07 October 2021- A decade of data from South Africa shows AIDS defining cancers are the most common type of cancer, linked with low CD4 counts
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UNAIDS Board approves 2022–2023 budget and a five-year results and accountability framework
GENEVA, 7 October 2021 - The UNAIDS Programme Coordinating Board (PCB) has approved, at a special session, the Unified Budget, Results and Accountability Framework (UBRAF) for 2022–2026 and the UNAIDS budget for 2022 and 2023. The approved budget is set at up to a threshold of US$ 210 million per year.
“HIV is not a crime”: The Pennsylvania Capitol is working on outdated legislation for people living with the virus
October 6, 2021- On Wednesday, about 20 people gathered in the East Wing of the State Capitol to present a mural of “Living a Positive Life” commissioned by the Family Health Council as part of an HIV management campaign.
“We are here today to broadcast loudly and clearly that HIV is no longer a death sentence,” he said. Central Pennsylvania Family Health Council Said.
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CANFAR Celebrates 25 Years of Bloor Street Entertains in Support of Ending HIV in Canada
TORONTO, Oct. 5, 2021 /CNW/ - On November 25, the 25th edition of BSE, presented by BMO Financial Group, will honour our hospitality & luxury retail partners as well as the Canadian HIV scientific research community
The Canadian Foundation for AIDS Research (CANFAR) will be hosting the 25th edition of its milestone fundraising event, Bloor Street Entertains (BSE), on November 25, 2021. The event marks a return to in-person dining at some of the most prestigious locations in Bloor-Yorkville, thanks to our large community of retailers and hospitality partners who have been the heartbeat of the event since its inception. Presented by Signature Partner BMO Financial Group, this 25th anniversary edition of BSE25 will honour long-time CANFAR partners and patrons, as well as pay tribute to healthcare communities, including Canadian HIV research scientists who have been hard at work fighting two pandemics these past 18 months, COVID-19 and HIV.
A life in paediatric HIV research and care: Prof Gareth Tudor-Williams retires
05 October 2021 - by Genevieve Timmins - Professor Gareth Tudor-Williams has retired after a career spanning over three decades in paediatric HIV research and care.
In his introduction to Professor Tudor-Williams’ 2019 inaugural lecture, Professor Mike Levin remarked: “I can't possibly count or remember the number of countries and places that Gareth has been. But the people here who work in paediatric HIV will know that Gareth has travelled to far ends of numerous countries around the world to teach on HIV and to spread his clinical expertise and knowledge.”
Director of the White House Office of National AIDS Policy Featured Speaker for Duke University Event
October 5, 2021 - On October 12, the Duke University School of Nursing will present “The Role of Nursing in Ending the HIV Epidemic: A Call to Action.” The virtual event will highlight 40 years of indispensable contributions of nurses fighting HIV in the U.S. and globally and new directions for leveraging nurses in support of reinforced national efforts to end the HIV epidemic by 2030. The event’s featured speaker will be Harold Phillips, MRP, director of the White House Office of National AIDS Policy. Through his current position, Phillips leads the process of setting the administration’s domestic HIV/AIDS priorities to be reducing the number of new HIV transmissions, improving the quality of life for people living with HIV and ending the HIV epidemic.
Telling the Lost Stories of a 40-Year-Old Pandemic
October 5, 2021 - Most recorded history from the height of the HIV/AIDS crisis focuses on the virus’ effects on communities like New York City and San Francisco—big cities seen as the epicenters of U.S. gay life. But HIV and AIDS in the Lehigh Valley, an integrative learning course taught by Teaching and Learning Librarian Rachel Hamelers, brings to life the lost stories of those affected by HIV here in the Valley, spotlighting the impact on regions of all sizes and connecting local faces to an overwhelming epidemic.
Illinois HIV Care Connect Launches HIV Innovation Campaign
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. --(BUSINESS WIRE)-- October 05, 2021 - llinois HIV Care Connect today launched its HIV Innovation web and social media campaign, showcasing several Illinois HIV initiatives that are helping to prevent or treat HIV more effectively.
Increased risk of Kaposi’s sarcoma with low CD4/CD8 ratios and of non-Hodgkin lymphoma with high CD8 counts despite effective HIV treatment
5 October 2021 - Alain Volny-Anne - A recent study has found that despite effective antiretroviral therapy, low CD4/CD8 ratios and high CD8 counts are associated with a higher risk of Kaposi’s sarcoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma, respectively. This increased risk is particularly present in people living with HIV who have CD4 cell counts above 500.
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PhD research points to effective treatment of depression in people living with HIV/AIDS
04 OCTOBER 2021 | STORY STEPHEN LANGTRY - Dr Biksegn Asrat, a University of Cape Town (UCT) PhD graduate, focused his doctoral research on depression and HIV/AIDS – particularly at adapting and piloting group interpersonal therapy for treatment of depressive symptoms for people living with HIV/AIDS.
“I studied public mental health, particularly focusing on people with HIV/AIDS. The aim of my study was to identify a type of psychological intervention that can be effective and acceptable for depressed people with HIV/AIDS,” he said.
ViiV Healthcare submits FDA application for first dispersible single tablet regimen containing dolutegravir (DTG) for children living with HIV
London, 04 October 2021 - ViiV Healthcare the global specialist HIV company majority-owned by GSK, with Pfizer Inc. and Shionogi Limited as shareholders, has announced it has made a regulatory submission to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for approval of a new dispersible tablet formulation of the fixed dose combination of abacavir, dolutegravir and lamivudine and, to extend its current approval for Triumeq (abacavir/ dolutegravir/ lamivudine) to lower the minimum weight at which a child can be prescribed this medicine, from 40kg and above to 14kg and above. If approved, this approval will result in further treatment options for younger children living with HIV.
‘Retro’ gene found in monkeys may lead to immunity against HIV, other viral diseases
SALT LAKE CITY - OCTOBER 3, 2021 -
A gene found in animals could be the key to stopping viruses, including HIV and Ebola, dead in their tracks, according to a new study. The genetic mutation, dubbed “retroCHMP3,” prevents certain viruses from spreading by trapping them inside the cell’s membrane, say scientists. While humans do have the CHMP3 gene, we do not have the “retro” variant, which is only found in monkeys, mice, and some other animals.
Condoms and COVID tests paired for weekend crowds in downtown Halifax
Oct 02, 2021 - Taryn Grant - Hundreds of packages handed out encouraging people to be safe whether 'going out' or 'going in'
Researchers at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU) and Université de Montréal, Canada have discovered a way to potentially eliminate HIV-1 infection in infected individuals by using a new type of antibody-based therapeutics, according to a new study published Sept. 28 in mBio.
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American Gene Technologies Appoints Dr. Marcus A. Conant as Special Advisor to the CEO
Dr. Conant, one of the first HIV/AIDS treatment pioneers, strengthens AGT’s capacity to progress toward a functional cure
ROCKVILLE, Md., Oct. 01, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --
American Gene Technologies (AGT) announces the appointment of Dr. Marcus A. Conant, a leading dermatologist in the U.S. and one of the first physicians to diagnose and treat AIDS, as special advisor to AGT CEO Jeff Galvin.
Infectious disease expert says B.C. needs to be more transparent with breakthrough COVID-19 cases
Oct 01, 2021 - Cathy Kearney - Majority of cases result in mild symptoms, but understanding who is at risk will help target interventions
A B.C. infectious disease expert says the province should release more detailed information about who among the fully vaccinated is contracting breakthrough COVID-19 infections.
Dr. Brian Conway of the Vancouver Infectious Disease Centre says the majority of breakthrough cases result in mild symptoms, but understanding who is most at risk will better target interventions to stem the spread of the disease.
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It’s time to stop criminalizing HIV
OCTOBER 1, 2021 - BY CRAIG WASHINGTON - Georgia law hasn’t caught up to science. For people living here with HIV, consensual sex can still lead to felony charges. Writer Craig Washington shares his story and why it's time for change.
The most insidious mistruth about HIV criminalization is that it’s a fair-minded HIV prevention tool. The continued enforcement of these laws across the US is not driven by a thoughtful and compassionate response to ending AIDS.
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Professor collaborates on $3.1 million grant to address HIV in African American/Black and Latinx youth
OCTOBER 1, 2021 - By John Brhel - A new $3.1-million, four-year grant co-led by Binghamton University faculty could help African American and Latinx youth living with HIV.
The study, funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) — part of the National Institutes of Health — seeks to understand specific factors that promote or impede behaviors that comprise engagement along the HIV care continuum (HCC) and how they operate and interplay over time among African American/Black and Latinx (AABL) youth and emerging adults living with HIV (YEA-LWH). Binghamton University Professor of Human Development Leo Wilton and NYU Silver Professor and Associate Dean for Research Marya Gwadz are principal investigators on the grant.
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