Emergency department opt-out testing is revolutionising HIV and hepatitis diagnosis in England

The British HIV Association (BHIVA) conference in Gateshead, UK last week heard the results of the first year’s rollout of opt-out testing for HIV and hepatitis B and C for all patients attending emergency departments in London and other areas of high prevalence of the three blood-borne viruses.

Current PrEP provision does not align with women’s preferences, UK survey suggests

An online survey of women found greater interest in long-acting injectables or event-based dosing of PrEP than daily pills, while many would like to access PrEP from a pharmacy or GP surgery. However, these options are not yet available in the UK.

Descovy is licensed for PrEP in the UK, but almost no one is using it

The alternative type of PrEP pill containing tenofovir alafenamide (Descovy) has been licensed by the UK drug regulator, but few people are aware of that and even fewer are actually taking it. Having this additional PrEP option in the UK is one of the few divergences seen since Brexit in how HIV drugs are licensed in the UK and the rest of Europe. 

80% fall in hepatitis C among people with HIV in England, British HIV Association conference hears

In 2018, BHIVA announced an ambitious target: to clear chronic hepatitis C infection from people with HIV co-infection by April 2021. Although the target hasn't yet been reached, the number of people in England with HIV who also have hepatitis C has reduced by 79%.

Both medical and social factors linked with accelerated brain ageing in people living with HIV

Heart disease risk factors, hepatitis C and detectable HIV emerged as key factors associated with older-appearing brain structures in people with HIV. Social factors, such as unemployment and living in a poorer neighbourhood also appear to play a central role. The study examined structural brain changes that are visible on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans.

Two studies give much needed (but still insufficient) insights into transgender men’s sexual health needs

HIV research and monitoring has historically excluded transgender men, creating blind spots in understanding this group’s sexual wellbeing and happiness. Two recent studies – one out of New York and the other from Germany – suggest that transgender men who have sex with other men have a higher prevalence of HIV than the general population. 

Trans women in the US have high rates of HIV and premature death

In the first US cohort study to study both new cases of HIV and mortality exclusively in transgender women, researchers found that each year 0.33% of women died and 0.55% contracted HIV. Rates of death were higher in Latinx women and HIV incidence was higher in Black women. 

Australia: Treatment as prevention and PrEP reduce new HIV cases in gay and bisexual men by two-thirds

A 27% increase in the number of gay and bisexual men taking antiretroviral treatment in Australia and having undetectable viral load resulted in a 66% reduction in HIV infections between 2010 and 2019, showing that treatment as prevention is highly effective as a public health measure.

Cancer specialists not making decisions based on HIV status, but also not discussing HIV with patients

A qualitative study explored factors that influenced how oncologists approached cancer treatment among people living with HIV in the US. The providers rarely discussed the intersection of HIV and cancer with their patients, often for confidentiality reasons. None had received specific training on HIV, and most reported treating HIV like any other chronic health condition.

As few as two PrEP pills a week protect during anal sex – but vaginal sex may need daily dosing

A comparison between the people allocated to oral PrEP in the two pivotal studies that compared it to injectable PrEP, HPTN 083 and HPTN 084, has found that the pills provided 99% protection against HIV infection to the gay and bisexual men and transgender women in HPTN 083 as long as they consistently took two or more pills a week. But the cisgender African women in HPTN 084 had to maintain daily PrEP – all seven pills a week – to receive the same efficacy.

Uganda parliament passes harsh anti-LGBTQ bill mostly unchanged | Reuters

The new bill retains most of the harshest measures of the legislation adopted in March, including the death penalty in cases of so-called "aggravated homosexuality", a term the government uses to describe actions including having gay sex when HIV positive.

Merck reveals HIV combo trial is back in the running after FDA partial hold lifted  | FierceBiotech

Merck executives said on a first-quarter earnings call that the company is restarting a phase 2 trial testing a combination of islatravir and Gilead’s lenacapavir.

EU pharma reform: Winners and losers | Politico

The first major overhaul of the EU's medicines regulations in 20 years aims to make access to medicines more secure and affordable, encourage innovation and reduce red tape. It touches on everything from medicines access to drug shortages, and the bloc’s pharma regulator.

US officials want to end the HIV epidemic by 2030. Many stakeholders think they won’t | Kaiser Health News

The US federal government’s ambitious plan to end the HIV epidemic, launched in 2019, has generated new ways to reach at-risk populations. But health officials, advocates, and people living with HIV worry significant headwinds will keep the programme from reaching its goals.

Tennessee blocked $8 million for HIV, now ends up with $13 million, stunning advocates | NBC News

After Governor Bill Lee blocked US$8.3M in federal HIV funds in Tennessee, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has guaranteed $4M to state non-profits and now the state legislature has added $9M in new money. But HIV advocates are concerned the money won’t be spent wisely and will go toward low-risk groups.

'A quick death or a slow death': Russian prisoners choose war to get lifesaving drugs | The New York Times

An estimated 20% of Russia prisoner recruits are HIV positive. To some, the Ukrainian front lines seemed less risky than prisons where they said they were denied effective treatments.