News from aidsmap
Breastfeeding and HIV in the US and Canada: no transmissions, no consistency
A multi-site study found no HIV transmissions among 72 people living with HIV who breastfed or chestfed their infants between 2014 and 2022 in the US and Canada. Healthcare providers serving these families shared concerns on how to best support them given the lack of detailed guidance and information on best practice.
Dolutegravir alone maintains HIV suppression in those treated early
Dolutegravir-based single-drug therapy was an effective long-term maintenance regimen in people who had started treatment soon after acquiring HIV in a small study in Switzerland. Participants on dolutegravir alone experienced no treatment failure while their immunological and virological features remained stable throughout the four-year follow-up. These findings suggest the possibility of dolutegravir-based single-drug therapy for a select group of people with HIV, but there are caveats.
Immunological landscape of post-treatment controllers identified
Using data from treatment interruption studies, researchers have compared the immunological response between post-treatment controllers and others living with HIV following analytical treatment interruptions. By comparing an exhaustive list of immunological variables, the researchers found post-treatment controllers mount different responses to HIV both on and then off antiretroviral therapy (ART) to other people.
French study confirms that people with HIV born abroad are less likely to receive integrase inhibitors than those born in France
Data from across France show that the choice of the antiretroviral regimen is influenced by the birth country of patients, without clear clinical, virological or immunological justification. These results confirm what was revealed by a recent study from a Paris hospital.
Enemas, suppositories, and inserts are acceptable for applying HIV-prevention medicine before anal sex
A clinical trial showed that most people who have receptive anal sex rated enemas, suppositories and rectal inserts as highly acceptable methods to use rectal microbicides, an experimental HIV-prevention strategy that does not yet have an effective formulation. The racially diverse and multinational participants tried all three methods, which were loaded with placebos, and reported how often they used them and how well they liked them.
Checkpoint immunotherapy is safe and effective for HIV-positive people with cancer
People living with HIV can safely use immune checkpoint inhibitors to treat cancer, and they appear to benefit as much as HIV-negative people, according to a study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. In this retrospective analysis, which included 390 people with HIV, about 20% experienced immune-related adverse events, similar to the rate for people without HIV.
Same-day viral load test installed in Uganda, but people with HIV still received results months later
Despite having an on-site viral load testing platform that provided same-day results and reduced the wait time from a median of 51 days, most people attending a clinic in rural Uganda still chose to receive their results during their next clinic visit, which was usually at least a month away, researchers from Mbarara University Uganda report in the journal PLOS Global Public Health.
Once-daily dolutegravir sufficient when taking TB treatment
A second daily dose of dolutegravir for people taking standard TB treatment seems to be unnecessary, a South African randomised study has reported in the journal The Lancet HIV.
Can testing for drug-gene interactions improve treatment success in people with HIV?
A significant number of drug-related toxicities or inefficacies in people with HIV may be due to unfavourable interactions between the medications and the way the body handles them, genetic testing suggests. Testing for genes involved in metabolising drugs before starting or changing treatment may be cost-effective and improve treatment success, a team of researchers has concluded.
More evidence that long COVID is more common in people with HIV
People with HIV are more likely to experience ‘long COVID’ symptoms and to experience serious cardiovascular and metabolic disorders and cancers after being diagnosed with COVID-19, a large US study has found. Two US researchers involved in long COVID research say there is an urgent need to understand why people with HIV are more vulnerable to long COVID and to include them in clinical trials of potential long COVID treatments.
Vacancy at NAM: Marketing and Communications Manager
We are looking for an experienced marketing and communications manager to join our team to help research and develop our marketing strategy, promote NAM’s work and build awareness of the charity and its outputs.
The role will help us to understand the communities we support and ensure that our vital information reaches those most affected by HIV.
Applications close at 6pm on 26 July.
Editors' picks from other sources
The Denver Principles: 40 years on | UNAIDS
Forty years ago, visionary activists developed the Denver Principles manifesto, which shaped the active involvement of people living with HIV in the AIDS response. This was a historic first step towards the Greater Involvement of People with HIV (GIPA) principle.
Innovative regulatory strategy drastically reduces time needed for new HIV drug to reach children | Clinton Health Access Initiative
In 2020, the Clinton Health Access Initiative partnered with ViiV Healthcare and two generic manufacturers to transform the process for getting a new generic HIV drug to market, called paediatric dolutegravir. What usually takes years, if not decades, was achieved in under two years.
The abortion wars have engulfed George W. Bush’s AIDS-fighting programme | Politico
A dispute over abortion has dimmed hopes on Capitol Hill for passing legislation to reauthorise the US programme credited with saving 25 million lives in the developing world from AIDS.
Mpox vaccinations extended in London following recent spike in cases | UK Health Security Agency
Vaccinations against mpox have been extended in London following a recent cluster of cases, with most in those who had not been vaccinated.
UNAIDS welcomes announcement by Colombian government that will enable people access to the most appropriate HIV treatment for them | UNAIDS
The Ministry of Health of Colombia is considering issuing a compulsory licence for dolutegravir-based regimens, which could mean a significant reduction of more than 80% of dolutegravir's price.
What happens to HIV drugs in the body and missed doses
Antiretroviral therapy has completely transformed HIV into an easily manageable condition for many people. However, if you are living with HIV, you need to take your medication as prescribed in order to fully control the virus and prevent it from damaging your health.
What does happen to HIV drugs in the body? And do missed doses of HIV treatment matter? Find out in our new page.