UNAIDS

Global HIV Progress Overstated: AHF Calls for UNAIDS Audit

Retrieved on: 
Monday, January 8, 2024

Inflated numbers would mean that the progress against the epidemic has been slower than anticipated, and a greater investment of resources will be needed to put the global HIV response back on track.

Key Points: 
  • Inflated numbers would mean that the progress against the epidemic has been slower than anticipated, and a greater investment of resources will be needed to put the global HIV response back on track.
  • “We have offered to assist UNAIDS with the auditing process in anyway practical.”
    The following is a full text of the open letter:
    We write this letter to express our alarm over the inaccuracy of global HIV treatment statistics being reported by UNAIDS.
  • We urge UNAIDS and the WHO to audit at least 10% of patient charts across the globe.
  • We believe that our proposal will be an exciting new chapter for global AIDS that will yield gratifying results.

Thermo Fisher Scientific and Project HOPE Partner to Advance Health Equity Among HIV Positive Youth in Sub-Saharan Africa

Retrieved on: 
Friday, December 1, 2023

The partnership greatly advances Project HOPE’s efforts in Northwestern Nigeria by expanding access to critical community HIV testing services.

Key Points: 
  • The partnership greatly advances Project HOPE’s efforts in Northwestern Nigeria by expanding access to critical community HIV testing services.
  • Additionally, Thermo Fisher will engage its employees in volunteer opportunities to augment the services delivered by Project HOPE.
  • “Project HOPE is delighted to collaborate with Thermo Fisher Scientific on this transformative journey to improve the lives of adolescents and young persons in Northwestern Nigeria,” said Dr. Uche RalphOpara, deputy chief health officer, Project HOPE.
  • To learn more about Thermo Fisher’s global commitment to health equity, explore the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility Report .

AHF Demands WHO ‘Make it Right’ for Sex Abuse Survivors

Retrieved on: 
Friday, November 17, 2023

It’s bad enough the abuses happened at all – but they were not investigated adequately, and reforms were not implemented immediately.

Key Points: 
  • It’s bad enough the abuses happened at all – but they were not investigated adequately, and reforms were not implemented immediately.
  • And the survivors were abused again by meager compensation and support.
  • AHF has a long history of advocating for justice for sex abuse survivors and for decision-makers within the U.N. system to hold perpetrators accountable, dating back to the scandal at UNAIDS and its then Executive Director Michel Sidibé , who later resigned before his term ended.
  • To learn more about AHF, please visit our website: www.aidshealth.org , find us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/aidshealth and follow us on Twitter: @aidshealthcare and Instagram: @aidshealthcare .

Elton John welcomes expansion of opt-out testing for HIV to 46 Accident & Emergency sites across England and calls on all political leaders to do more to end AIDS in a speech at Speaker's House

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, November 29, 2023

LONDON, Nov. 29, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Elton John was honoured at a reception hosted by the All Party Parliamentary Group on HIV/AIDS at the Speaker's House today in recognition of his enduring commitment to ending the AIDS epidemic, both personally and through the work of the Elton John AIDS Foundation.

Key Points: 
  • In the UK, new HIV diagnoses are down 46% since their peak in 2015.
  • "In the 1990's, I visited far too many homes where people were dying of AIDS.
  • That's why the Labour Party will commission an update to the HIV Action Plan as soon as we come to government."
  • Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director of UNAIDS and United Nations Under-Secretary-General, said: "Over 40 million lives have been lost to AIDS.

Over $3.7 million in NIH grants will fund research on impacts of climate change on HIV-related health outcomes

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, October 18, 2023

"These climate-related factors likely also increase the risk of poor clinical outcomes among people living with HIV."

Key Points: 
  • "These climate-related factors likely also increase the risk of poor clinical outcomes among people living with HIV."
  • Work on the four-year R01 award will combine data sources uniquely suited to characterize the influence of extreme weather on HIV care outcomes.
  • This, in turn, can inform strategies to help mitigate the impacts of climate change and extreme weather on HIV care outcomes and the trajectory of the HIV pandemic.
  • The team is currently recruiting for a full-time Postdoctoral Fellow to focus on climate and health research, as well as a full-time Project Manager , to join the project team.

Jhpiego CEO Honored with Prestigious Fellowship Award from Academy of Public Health

Retrieved on: 
Friday, October 13, 2023

Dr. Mancuso, the president and CEO of Jhpiego, and the other fellowship award recipients were honored as “individuals who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, scholarship, and service in the field of public health,” according to the award announcement released by the academy, which represents the membership of the West African Institute of Public Health.

Key Points: 
  • Dr. Mancuso, the president and CEO of Jhpiego, and the other fellowship award recipients were honored as “individuals who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, scholarship, and service in the field of public health,” according to the award announcement released by the academy, which represents the membership of the West African Institute of Public Health.
  • “For 50 years, Jhpiego has worked closely with health leaders across the African continent to ensure women, men, and their families receive high-quality health services.
  • “Thank you, Academy of Public Health, for this honor.”
    Dr. Mancuso, a recognized international business executive and nurse, has led Jhpiego for more than two decades.
  • “Your expertise and passion will undoubtedly continue to inspire the next generation of public health professionals and
    drive positive change in our region,” the academy announcement said.

Vir Biotechnology Announces First Participant Dosed in New Phase 1 Trial Evaluating VIR-1388, an Investigational T Cell Vaccine for the Prevention of HIV

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, September 20, 2023

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 20, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Vir Biotechnology, Inc. (Nasdaq: VIR) today announced that the first participant has been dosed in a Phase 1 trial evaluating the safety, reactogenicity and immunogenicity of VIR-1388, an investigational novel T cell vaccine for the prevention of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The Company expects initial data from the Phase 1 trial in the second half of 2024.

Key Points: 
  • The Company expects initial data from the Phase 1 trial in the second half of 2024.
  • VIR-1388 was developed using applied learnings from VIR-1111, the Company’s initial investigational proof-of-concept HIV T cell vaccine based on HCMV.
  • The Phase 1 trial of VIR-1388 will take place in both domestic and international sites within the federally funded HIV Vaccine Trials Network (HVTN) as study HVTN 142.
  • The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 1 trial (NCT05854381) is evaluating the safety, reactogenicity and immunogenicity of three different doses of VIR-1388 compared with placebo.

Government of Canada Improves Access to Sexual and Reproductive Health Services

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, September 7, 2023

EDMONTON, AB, Sept. 7, 2023 /CNW/ - Everyone, regardless of their sexual or gender identity, should have access to sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services and resources that are safe and stigma-free.

Key Points: 
  • EDMONTON, AB, Sept. 7, 2023 /CNW/ - Everyone, regardless of their sexual or gender identity, should have access to sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services and resources that are safe and stigma-free.
  • "Sexual and reproductive health services are health care.
  • "Everyone has the right to access safe, and stigma-free sexual and reproductive health services.
  • "Health equity outcomes can be improved when people have access to sexual reproductive health information that resonates with their lived experience.

Viatris Announces U.S. FDA Tentative Approval of a Paediatric Formulation of Abacavir (ABC)/Dolutegravir (DTG)/Lamivudine (3TC), a Once-daily Treatment for Children Living with HIV

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, September 5, 2023

PITTSBURGH and BANGALORE, India, Sept. 5, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Viatris Inc. (NASDAQ: VTRS), a global healthcare company, today announced U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) tentative approval for a New Drug Application for abacavir 60 mg/dolutegravir 5 mg/lamivudine 30 mg tablets for oral suspension for the treatment of HIV-1 infection in paediatric patients.

Key Points: 
  • According to the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), treatment coverage for children and adolescents lags behind adults.
  • Some 660,000 children living with HIV – about 43 percent of the estimated total 1.5 million [1.2 million–2.1 million] children living with HIV – did not receive antiretroviral (ARV) therapy in 2022.
  • Accordingly, children accounted for 13 per cent of AIDS-related deaths in 2022, even though they comprise only about 4 percent of people living with HIV.
  • The approval of this single tablet regimen – the fixed-dose combination of abacavir 60 mg/dolutegravir 5 mg/lamivudine 30 mg - will reduce the pill burden for children living with HIV."

Clinical Results of ASC22 (Envafolimab) in Combination with Chidamide for Functional Cure of HIV Infection Presented at the 12th IAS Conference on HIV Science

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, July 25, 2023

The objective of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of ASC22 (Envafolimab) combined with Chidamide on the viral reservoirs of latently infected cells in HIV-infected people.

Key Points: 
  • The objective of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of ASC22 (Envafolimab) combined with Chidamide on the viral reservoirs of latently infected cells in HIV-infected people.
  • Ascletis BioScience Co., Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ascletis, provided ASC22 (Envafolimab) for the clinical trial.
  • This Phase II study showed that combination treatment with ASC22 and Chidamide is well tolerated and effectively activated latent HIV reservoirs.
  • We are excited that ASC22 in combination of Chidamide effectively activated the latent HIV reservoirs.