Long-acting injectable version of the most popular HIV drug combination is possible

Researchers at the University of Washington in Seattle say they have cracked the challenge of creating a long-acting injectable form of the world’s most commonly prescribed antiretroviral combination, tenofovir disoproxil fumarate, lamivudine and dolutegravir, often known as TLD.

Defective HIV particles may drive inflammation despite long-term viral suppression

People with HIV experience ongoing low-level inflammation which may contribute to worsened health outcomes compared to the general population, however, it has been challenging to pin it down on an exact cause. Findings of a collaboration of scientists from the US National Institutes of Health link the persistent inflammation seen in people with HIV to defective HIV particles. Their work also confirms the presence of the virus’ components despite undetectable status as described in the journal AIDS.  

HIV diagnoses in England increasing, but long-term trend uncertain

HIV diagnoses rose in England in 2022, but much of the increase was due to the arrival of people with HIV already on antiretroviral treatment rather than an increase in HIV transmission, the UK Health Security Agency reported last week in its annual report on HIV in England.

Mpox vaccination reduces the likelihood of hospitalisation

Receiving at least one dose of the MVA-BN vaccine significantly reduced the likelihood of being hospitalised with mpox (formerly known as monkeypox) for both HIV-positive and HIV-negative people, according to a study by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the California Department of Public Health, published in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

Greater weight gain in first year of HIV treatment raises risks of diabetes, metabolic syndrome and precursors of heart disease

Greater weight gain and changes in body composition in the first year after starting antiretroviral treatment were associated with an increased risk of developing diabetes and metabolic syndrome over nine years of follow-up among participants in several large clinical trials, study investigators report in Clinical Infectious Diseases.

Very poor long-term outcomes for people with TB and HIV in eastern Europe

The rates of tuberculosis (TB) recurrence and mortality in people with HIV in eastern Europe remain concerningly high and continue to be a clinical and public health challenge, according to a paper published in AIDS. In the first study to report on long-term follow-up of people with TB/HIV co-infection in eastern Europe, one in seven people had TB again and over half died.

Social determinants of health result in staggering AIDS inequalities in Brazil

Education, poverty, and race have an undeniable link to AIDS-related outcomes in a study of nearly 30 million Brazilians, according to researchers from the Federal University of Bahia. Their findings show that people who are not well educated, poor and Black are at a higher risk of being diagnosed with AIDS and dying as a result.

Why do transmascs still struggle to get on PrEP? | Xtra Magazine

Studies show that trans masculine people are more likely to be living with HIV than the general population – but they still face barriers accessing prevention care.

PEPFAR limps into uncertain future after failure of US congress to authorise five-year plan | Health Policy Watch

The failure of the US Congress to reauthorise a five-year budget for the world’s largest aid programme for global health, the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), by its 30 September deadline doesn’t mean that it will automatically end – but without broad bipartisan support, it limps into an uncertain future. 

UNAIDS welcomes new decision in Colombia allowing more affordable access to quality HIV medicines | UNAIDS

Colombia makes landmark decision to declare the HIV medicine dolutegravir of public interest, allowing the country to purchase or manufacture more affordable, generic versions of the live-saving HIV medicine

HIV drugmaker will pay $246 million to settle suit over generic meds delay | Courthouse News Service

Gilead Sciences will pay US$246.75 million to customers who purchased the drugs Truvada or Atripla, or any of the two drugs’ generic versions, during a period of about five years.

UK's first consumption room for illegal drugs given go-ahead | BBC News

The UK's first official consumption room for illegal drugs including heroin and cocaine has been approved by authorities in Glasgow.

Fears of hidden HIV epidemic in eastern Ukraine as war takes its toll | The Telegraph

Infections are thought to be spreading in the occupied territories, where testing has all but stopped. 

Kenya: This is what it's like to be ageing with HIV | The Standard

There is a group of people who were diagnosed with the disease in the early 90s, lived the challenges, and are now ageing with the virus.