Antiretroviral News and Research RSS Feed - Antiretroviral News and Research

Study shows widespread use of antiretroviral drugs would increase prevalence of MDR HIV

Study shows widespread use of antiretroviral drugs would increase prevalence of MDR HIV

One of the most widely advocated strategies for dealing with HIV/AIDS could double the number of multi-drug-resistant HIV cases in the population of men who have sex with men in LA County over the next 10 years, cautions a new study. [More]

Small percentage of adults who receive rapid HIV treatment following infection might achieve 'functional cure,' French researchers say

"Rapid treatment after HIV infection may be enough to 'functionally cure' about a 10th of those diagnosed early, say researchers in France," who "have been analyzing 14 people who stopped therapy, but have since shown no signs of the virus resurging," BBC News reports (Gallagher, 3/15). [More]

More frequent HIV testing would be cost-effective for high- and low-risk groups, researchers report

Early HIV treatment can save lives as well as have profound prevention benefits. But those infected with the virus first must be identified before they can be helped. [More]
New paper examines long-term damage that political strife can do to public health

New paper examines long-term damage that political strife can do to public health

As Kenyan citizens negotiated the tensions following the March 4 nationwide elections, memories of the violence that followed the December 2007 vote weighed heavily for many reasons. [More]
Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Agreement: an interview with Judit Rius, Médecins Sans Frontières

Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Agreement: an interview with Judit Rius, Médecins Sans Frontières

The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) is a trade deal currently being negotiated between eleven countries of the Asia-Pacific region: Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, United States, Singapore and Vietnam. [More]
Study: No increase in mortality with well-controlled HIV

Study: No increase in mortality with well-controlled HIV

For HIV-infected patients whose disease is well-controlled by modern treatment, the risk of death is not significantly higher than in the general population, according to a study published in AIDS, official journal of the International AIDS Society. AIDS is published by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, a part of Wolters Kluwer Health. [More]
Patients with drug-resistant HIV can safely achieve viral suppression without NRTIs

Patients with drug-resistant HIV can safely achieve viral suppression without NRTIs

A new multi-site study reveals patients with drug-resistant HIV can safely achieve viral suppression - the primary goal of HIV therapy - without incorporating the traditional class of HIV medications into their treatment regimen. [More]

Editorial, opinion pieces react to 'functional cure' of infant born with HIV

Scientists on Sunday announced that an infant born with HIV appears to have been "functionally cured" of the virus after receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) within 30 hours of birth. [More]
'Science Speaks' blog reports from 20th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections

'Science Speaks' blog reports from 20th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections

The Center for Global Health Policy's "Science Speaks" blog on Wednesday published a series of posts on the 20th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI), which took place in Atlanta, Georgia, from Sunday to Wednesday. [More]
Study shows community-based HIV-prevention efforts increase testing rates, reduce HIV incidence

Study shows community-based HIV-prevention efforts increase testing rates, reduce HIV incidence

In Africa and Thailand, communities that worked together on HIV-prevention efforts saw not only a rise in HIV screening but a drop in new infections, according to a new study presented this week at the Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections in Atlanta. [More]

Women's low adherence to daily-dose products in HIV prevention trial suggest different approach needed, researchers say

"Results of a major HIV prevention trial suggest that daily use of a product -- whether a vaginal gel or an oral tablet -- does not appear to be the right approach for preventing HIV in young, unmarried African women," a press release from the Microbicide Trials Network reports. [More]
Nursing home patients with pneumonia may need viral screening

Nursing home patients with pneumonia may need viral screening

Viral testing should be carried out among all older individuals who have been admitted to hospital for nursing home-acquired pneumonia, recommend researchers. [More]

U.S. researchers report 'functional cure' for infant born with HIV

"A baby born with the virus that causes AIDS appears to have been cured, scientists announced Sunday, describing the case of a child from Mississippi who's now two and a half and has been off medication for about a year with no signs of active infection," the Associated Press reports. [More]
Discovery provides clues for potentially eliminating HIV infection in children

Discovery provides clues for potentially eliminating HIV infection in children

A two-year-old child born with HIV infection and treated with antiretroviral drugs beginning in the first days of life no longer has detectable levels of virus using conventional testing despite not taking HIV medication for 10 months, according to findings presented today at the Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections in Atlanta. [More]

Study finds antiretroviral-based strategies to prevent HIV infection among women prove ineffective

Three antiretroviral-based strategies intended to prevent HIV infection among women did not prove effective in a major clinical trial in Africa. [More]

Results of two important studies published in March issue of AIDS

The results of two important studies have been published in the March issue of AIDS, the official journal of the International AIDS Society. One study notes that screening for HIV should be performed more frequently—up to every three months for the highest-risk patients, while low-risk groups to be tested every three years. A second study demonstrates a link between heavy drinking and risky behaviors for men who have sex with men (MSM). [More]

World Trade Organization meeting this week to discuss proposed extension of TRIPS transition period for LDCs

"On March 5-6, the Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights Council of the World Trade Organization will meet in Geneva to seal the fate of the proposal lengthening the TRIPS transition period for the 49 least-developed countries [LDCs]," Devex's "The Development Newswire" reports, noting, "The transition period, set to expire July 2013, exempts LDCs from the terms of the TRIPS agreement on patents and test data protection for pharmaceuticals." [More]
Study highlights long-term benefits of early antiretroviral therapy initiated in infants

Study highlights long-term benefits of early antiretroviral therapy initiated in infants

A study led by University of Massachusetts Medical School professor and immunologist Katherine Luzuriaga, MD, and Johns Hopkins Children's Center virologist Deborah Persaud, MD, highlights the long-term benefits of early antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiated in infants. [More]
HCV and HIV co-infected patients achieve early treatment success with faldaprevir, PegIFN/RBV

HCV and HIV co-infected patients achieve early treatment success with faldaprevir, PegIFN/RBV

Interim study results from STARTversoTM 4 presented today at CROI+ show that 80 percent of hepatitis C (HCV) patients also infected with HIV achieved early treatment success with faldaprevir (BI 201335) combined with pegylated interferon and ribavirin (PegIFN/RBV). [More]
HIV infection may increase risk of acute myocardial infarction

HIV infection may increase risk of acute myocardial infarction

A study that analyzed data from more than 82,000 veterans suggests that infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) was associated with an increased risk of acute myocardial infarction (AMI, heart attack) beyond what is explained by recognized risk factors, according to a report published Online First by JAMA Internal Medicine, a JAMA Network publication. [More]