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iPrEx study: PrEP reduces HIV infection risk among gay, bisexual men

A daily dose of an oral antiretroviral drug, currently approved to treat HIV infection, reduced the risk of acquiring HIV infection by 43.8 percent among men who have sex with men.

24 Nov 2010

IAS expresses mixed reaction to the Pope's comments on condom usage

The International AIDS Society (IAS) cautiously notes the comments from Pope Benedict that condom use could, in specific circumstances, be acceptable, but calls on the Pope and the Catholic Church to come out clearly and strongly in support of all evidence-based methods of HIV prevention, including condom use.

24 Nov 2010

iPrEx trial shows reduction in new HIV infections

Results of the world's first efficacy trial of an HIV-prevention approach called oral pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP, were released online in the New England Journal of Medicine today.

24 Nov 2010

AHF commends Congressman Rohrabacher for exposing AIDS funding grab by China

AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), today lauded California Congressman Dana Rohrabacher (R-46th) for recent comments exposing an AIDS funding grab by the country of China—now the world's second largest economy— in its dealings with the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM). In a speech last week on the House floor, Rohrabacher chided China for its dealings with the Fund.

24 Nov 2010

National AIDS Fund and AIDS Action announce merger

On Monday, November 22, the National AIDS Fund (NAF) and AIDS Action announced details of a merger that will create a stronger national organization in the fight against HIV/AIDS, called AIDS United. Mark Ishaug, current President and CEO of AIDS Foundation of Chicago (AFC), will assume the helm of AIDS United in early 2011, when the new organization officially launches.

24 Nov 2010

iPrEx oral PrEP study achieves major milestone in HIV prevention research

This is a great day in the fight against AIDS. The positive results of the iPrEx oral PrEP study are a major milestone in HIV prevention research and provide important information about how antiretroviral drugs might be used for prevention by HIV-negative people at high risk for HIV infection, said AVAC Executive Director Mitchell Warren.

24 Nov 2010

AP reports on 'significant' clarification of Pope's comments on condoms to prevent HIV

The Associated Press/Washington Post reports that after questions arose about Pope Benedict XVI's comments on the use of condoms to prevent HIV, which one translation "implied that he was referring primarily to homosexual sex, when condoms aren't being used as a form of contraception," Vatican spokesman, the Rev. Federico Lombardi "told reporters Tuesday that he asked the pope whether he intended his comments to only apply to male prostitutes.

24 Nov 2010

Daily oral antiretroviral reduces HIV infection risk in MSM by 44%, study finds

A study that included nearly 2,500 HIV-negative men and transgender women who have sex with men has shown that a daily dose of Truvada, a pill containing the AIDS drugs emtricitabine and tenofovir, "can reduce risk of contracting [HIV] by an average of 44% - and by more than 70% if the subjects" follow the regimen closely, Los Angeles Times reports (Maugh, 11/23).

24 Nov 2010

UNAIDS report finds new HIV infections dropped by 20% over 10 years, deaths from AIDS-related illness dropped by 20% over 5 years

The number of new HIV infections has dropped by about one-fifth over the past decade but millions of people are still missing out on major progress in prevention and treatment, according to the annual UNAIDS report released Tuesday, Agence France-Presse reports.

23 Nov 2010

ViiV Healthcare awards $20 million to Idenix for GSK2248761 clinical milestone

Idenix Pharmaceuticals, Inc, a biopharmaceutical company engaged in the discovery and development of drugs for the treatment of human viral diseases, today announced that the Company will receive a payment of $20 million from the ViiV Healthcare Company for the achievement of a clinical milestone relating to GSK2248761.

23 Nov 2010

Pope's statement on condoms to reduce HIV has potential to save tens of thousands of lives, says GAA

The Pope's statement that the use of condoms are justified "in the intention of reducing the risk of HIV infection" is a startling and welcome shift by the Vatican that has the potential to save tens of thousands of lives, says Dr. Paul Zeitz, executive director of the Global AIDS Alliance (GAA).

23 Nov 2010

First African tapped as new head of U.N. population fund

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announced on Friday that former Nigerian Health Minister Babatunde Osotimehin has been appointed to head to head the U.N. Population Fund (UNFPA), the U.K. Press Association reports.

22 Nov 2010

Pope says condoms are justified in some cases to prevent HIV infection

Pope Benedict XVI says in a new book that condoms can be justified for male prostitutes seeking to stop the spread of HIV, a stunning comment for a church criticized for its opposition to condoms and for a pontiff who has blamed them for making the AIDS crisis worse, the Associated Press/Washington Post reports.

22 Nov 2010

AHF hails Pope Benedict's remarks on condom usage to prevent HIV transmission

AIDS Healthcare Foundation, the largest global AIDS organization, today hailed recent remarks by Pope Benedict XVI on the "justified" use condoms to prevent the spread of potentially deadly diseases like HIV that suggest a softening the Roman Catholic Church's absolute opposition to condom use in all circumstances.

22 Nov 2010

President of Catholics issues statement on Pope's view to prevent HIV transmission

Jon O'Brien, president of Catholics for Choice, issued the following statement after Pope Benedict XVI acknowledged that condoms have a role to play in preventing the transmission of HIV: We are delighted that the pope has acknowledged that condoms can help reduce the risk of sexually transmitted infections including HIV. It is a marvelous victory for common sense and reason and a major step forward towards recognizing that condom use can play a vital role in reducing the future impact of the HIV pandemic.

22 Nov 2010

Pope’s views on condoms downplayed by the Vatican

Pope Benedict XVI in a statement on the use of condoms, reported in a book to be published this week, had suggested the consideration of condom use in certain, limited circumstances. The Vatican immediately provided a “clarification” of the remarks, insisting he had “not reformed or changed the [Roman Catholic] church’s teaching”.

21 Nov 2010

Kenneth Cole Rubber Accessory Collection helps fight against HIV/AIDS

Save A Hide…Wear A Rubber this holiday season. Fashion designer Kenneth Cole invites customers to join in the fight against HIV/AIDS with the launch of the new Kenneth Cole Rubber Accessory Collection.

20 Nov 2010

New international guidelines launched to protect health workers against HIV, TB

Health workers are at the frontline in providing prevention, treatment and care for people living with HIV and TB throughout the world. They are at risk of occupational exposure to HIV and TB but often themselves lack adequate access to protection and treatment. To address this gap, new international guidelines are being launched today by the International Labour Organization, WHO and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS.

20 Nov 2010

HRSA awarded $1.6M in grants to support Hepatitis C Treatment Expansion Initiative

The Health Resources and Services Administration has awarded $1.6 million in grants to support the Hepatitis C Treatment Expansion Initiative. The funds will aid organizations implementing effective, focused interventions designed to increase access to and completion of Hepatitis C treatment for HIV-positive patients.

20 Nov 2010

Containers to Clinics opens pilot health facility in Haiti

Containers to Clinics (C2C), a nonprofit initiative that seeks to build health care infrastructures in developing countries through networks of converted shipping container clinics, today announced the opening of its pilot health facility at Grace Children's Hospital in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. The clinic's services will include health screenings, vaccinations, pre-and post-natal care, prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV/AIDS, post-partum and newborn care, infectious disease testing and treatment, nutrition counseling and health education classes.

20 Nov 2010