News from aidsmap
US study confirms no increased risk of neural tube defects after taking dolutegravir in pregnancy
A US study of births in women exposed to dolutegravir around the time of conception has confirmed that infants exposed to dolutegravir do not have an increased risk of neural tube defects.
PrEP use in pregnancy doesn't raise the risk of adverse pregnancy or birth outcomes
Oral PrEP consisting of tenofovir disoproxil (TDF) and emtricitabine taken during pregnancy does not increase the risk of adverse pregnancy or birth outcomes such as low birth weight, miscarriage or neonatal death, a South African study reports in the journal AIDS.
NAM news & opinion: The European AIDS Conference revisits Warsaw
Dr Esteban Martínez is president of the European AIDS Clinical Society (EACS) and a senior consultant in infectious diseases at Hospital Clínic in Barcelona, Spain. EACS organises the European AIDS Conference every two years. With the next conference taking place from 18 to 21 October, we spoke to Esteban about what to expect.
Past infection and vaccination protects against severe mpox
People with repeat mpox (formerly known as monkeypox) infections and those who were infected after vaccination appear less likely to develop severe illness, according to a global series of 37 cases reported in The Lancet Infectious Diseases.
Another class of cancer drugs may contribute to curing HIV
Two drugs from a class new to HIV medicine called BH3 mimetics were unveiled at July’s 12th International AIDS Society Conference on HIV Science (IAS 2023) in Brisbane. They may contribute to a cure for HIV by killing off long-lived cells that contain HIV genes in their DNA.
Users of TAF in PrEP more likely to develop high blood pressure or need statins
A study of people who started PrEP in a southern California health system has found that people who took PrEP containing tenofovir alafenamide (TAF) were more likely to be diagnosed with high blood pressure or start treatment with a statin to control cholesterol than those taking PrEP containing tenofovir disoproxil (TDF) during a two-year follow-up.
Competing priorities impact HIV treatment adherence for South Africans with low incomes
Difficulty in balancing work commitments and clinic appointments, diverting resources towards substance use, and covering other basic household needs over HIV treatment-related costs negatively affected the ability of people living with HIV to access or adhere to HIV treatment, South African researchers report in the journal AIDS Research and Therapy.
Two-thirds of countries in Latin America and the Caribbean offer PrEP
A study shows a significant progress in PrEP policies in Latin America and the Caribbean, where an increasing number of countries have begun to provide PrEP to communities at heightened risk of acquiring HIV. The study also highlights the gaps that remain in the process and provides recommendations to improve PrEP policies and access in the region.
Tonight: Health & Power
Join us tonight at 5.30pm for Health & Power, our broadcast for people of colour focusing on health inequalities. Susan Cole and Dr Vanessa Apea will be talking to the Director of Red Ribbon Living Well CIC, Husseina Hamza, and podcast host and disability advocate, Roxy Murray.
Watch the broadcast live on aidsmap's Facebook and Twitter pages.
Life expectancy for people living with HIV
A person living with HIV has a similar life expectancy to an HIV-negative person – providing they are diagnosed in good time, have good access to medical care, and are able to adhere to their HIV treatment.
Find out more in our recently updated page on aidsmap.
Editors' picks from other sources
Long-acting cabotegravir-rilpivirine for people not taking oral therapy – time to modify treatment guidelines? | HIV and ID Observations
If the alternative is untreated and progressive HIV disease, and the patient has advanced immunosuppression, we should stop discouraging use of this potentially life-saving therapy. I strongly believe the time has come for us to revise guidelines on long-acting cabotegravir-rilpivirine.
European Commission authorises ViiV Healthcare’s Apretude (cabotegravir long-acting and tablets) for HIV prevention | ViiV Healthcare
Cabotegravir is indicated in combination with safer sex practices for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to reduce the risk of sexually acquired HIV-1 infection in high-risk adults and adolescents (at least 12 years of age), weighing at least 35 kg.
UK government will not block Scots drug room pilot | BBC News
The UK government will not block plans for a drug consumption room pilot in Scotland, the Scottish secretary has confirmed. Alister Jack said Westminster would not intervene, but that there were no plans to devolve drugs laws to Holyrood.
PEPFAR, one of the greatest public health inventions of our time, is at risk | STAT
On the eve of its renewal, PEPFAR has been ensnared in the inescapable gravity of abortion politics. Congress may not renew PEPFAR for its typical five-year term. The problem with PEPFAR is not one of cost – it is one of ideology.
HIV prevention choice manifesto for women and girls in Africa launched | UNAIDS
The Choice Manifesto advocates for choice in the HIV prevention options available for women and a commitment to expanding access to long-acting HIV health technologies. Further, these options should be people-centred, women-centred and women-led.
Ugandan activists want donors to review programmes after anti-gay law | Devex (requires free registration)
Activists want donors to move from condemnation to action but some funders are concerned that halting their programmes would deprive the most vulnerable populations, including LGBTQ+ people, of vital assistance.
For ‘silver tsunami’ with HIV, new hope for healthy ageing | The New York Times
The medical research community, which some three decades ago developed lifesaving drugs to keep the virus at bay, is now hunting for new ways to keep people with HIV healthier in their later years. “I have been unbelievably impressed at how care for the older HIV population has really exploded,” said Dr Nathan Goldstein, who heads one such clinic at Mount Sinai in New York City.
Sexual health & HIV policy EUROBulletin
The September 2023 Sexual Health & HIV Policy EUROBulletin is available to read online.
In this edition's feature, we spoke to Dr Esteban Martínez, president of the European AIDS Clinical Society (EACS), about what to expect from this year's European AIDS Conference, taking place in Warsaw next month.
Other items to look out for include: reports from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) on progress towards HIV targets; a new website for queer migrants moving into or around Europe; and reports of multidrug-resistant shigella.