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July 2011

HIV/AIDS conference opens with a focus on new research

July 19, 2011 -- The sixth International AIDS Society (IAS) Conference on HIV Pathogenesis, Treatment, and Prevention opened in Rome earlier this week with a focus on new studies in HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment. On Monday, the University of North Carolina presented findings from the HPTN 052 study, which showed a more than 96 percent reduction in transmission risk for discordant couples where the HIV-infected partner began antiretroviral therapy earlier, at CD4 counts of 350-550 compared with couples in which therapy was delayed until CD4 counts dropped to 250 or less. The study's findings were published on Monday in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Also at the conference, a group of internationally renowned scientists and stakeholders is guiding the development of a global scientific strategy called "Towards an HIV Cure.” At the conference, the strategy's advisory board launched the Rome statement for an HIV Cure, calling for an acceleration of research into cures for HIV. In addition, the HIV Vaccines and Microbicides Resource Tracking Working Group—comprised of the AIDS Vaccine Advocacy Coalition (AVAC), the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, the International Partnership for Microbicides, and UNAIDS—released its seventh annual report. The report documents investments in biomedical HIV prevention research from public, philanthropic, and commercial sectors. According to an AVAC press release, the report "argues that capitalizing on recent promising scientific breakthroughs will require substantial additional and sustained investment from a broader set of donors.” See the links below for more details.

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