HIV Prevention News Around The Globe
|
Long-Acting Injectables for the Prevention or Treatment of HIV In recent years, long acting injectables (LAIs) have been introduced into clinical practice for the treatment and prevention of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection. These agents present another option for patients who may struggle with adherence to a daily oral medication, have difficulties swallowing oral medications, and those who generally prefer a long-acting agent. There are currently two LAIs approved for the treatment of HIV: cabotegravir co-packaged with rilpivirine (CAB/RPV) and lenacapavir (LEN). CAB/RPV was FDA approved in 2021 and is a complete regimen for the treatment of HIV-1 infection. It is administered as two gluteal intramuscular injections either every four or eight weeks. Lenacapavir is a first-in-class capsid inhibitor and was FDA approved in 2022 for use in heavily-treatment experienced adults with multidrug resistant HIV-1 infection in combination with other antiretrovirals. Lenacapavir is administered as two subcutaneous injections into the abdomen every 6 months, and at initiation patients must also take oral tablets based on 1 of 2 dosing strategies. Implementation of LAIs in the clinic setting requires a robust multidisciplinary approach, including providers, nurses, pharmacists, social workers, case managers, and support staff. Before initiating LAIs, patients should be thoroughly evaluated for drug interactions, history of drug resistance, hepatitis B infection, and willingness to regularly attend clinic visits. Additionally, patients should be counseled on the importance of receiving medication doses on time to avoid the development of drug resistance or loss of protection against HIV acquisition. Once initiated, LAIs may significantly improve medication adherence by avoiding the need for a daily oral tablet, increase patient satisfaction, and improve patient outcomes. A number of organizations have resources online to assist clinics interested in utilizing LAIs, including the American Academy of HIV Medicine (AAHIVM) which has a Long-Acting Agent Resource Center. You can read more about the article here |
|
|
How Artificial Intelligence Could Transform The AIDS Fight Amid the Covid-19 pandemic, the National Institutes of Health earmarked roughly $75 million for the Harnessing Data Science for Health Discovery and Innovation in Africa (DS-I Africa) to spur health innovation and data science on the continent. What came next was a chatbot that scientists hope will navigate data sharing regulations from 12 African countries. Beginning this fall, the free resource will help make research more easily shareable and accessible, which could produce greater breakthroughs and impact in global health. The rise in AI will impact every continent on earth, but none stand to benefit more than Africa. One in four people on the planet will be African by the middle of this century. AI will play a key role in helping empower this population and strengthen healthcare systems–which could be a game changer for the global AIDS fight. AI is already transforming the diagnostic landscape. Modules that are trained on thousands of x-rays now produce sophisticated algorithms that identify abnormalities that appear on X-ray, MRI and CT scans. Companies like Qure.ai have played a huge part in delivering life-saving diagnoses to people living with tuberculosis in a matter of minutes, giving them rapid access to care and treatment–an essential part of curbing the spread of TB. And that same technology can also detect other diseases like lung cancer, enabling patients to be screened for multiple diseases at once, reducing medical visits and, in some instances, providing early detection that otherwise would have gone unnoticed. This is an invaluable tool in advancing global health care, particularly in places where fragile health systems and a lack of trained medical professionals exist. You can read more about the article here |
Long-Acting Injectable Cabotegravir For HIV Prevention Safe In Pregnancy, Suggests Study Gilead Sciences, Inc. has entered into non-exclusive, royalty-free licensing agreements with six pharmaceutical manufacturers to produce and distribute generic versions of lenacapavir, a promising drug for HIV prevention and treatment. These agreements will cover 120 high-incidence, resource-limited countries, primarily in low- and lower-middle income regions, pending regulatory approvals. This bold move is part of Gilead’s strategy to provide broad access to lenacapavir, particularly for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), in its mission to end the HIV epidemic globally. The agreements were finalized before regulatory submissions, aiming for a rapid rollout of generic lenacapavir for HIV prevention, if approved. The agreements also cover lenacapavir for heavily treatment-experienced (HTE) adults with multi-drug resistant HIV. Daniel O’Day, Chairman and CEO of Gilead, noted the importance of swift action “Given the transformative potential of lenacapavir for prevention, our focus is on making it available as quickly and broadly as possible where the need is greatest.” He further added that the company has been working urgently with high-volume generic manufacturers to ensure a seamless transition once the drug is approved for PrEP. You can read more about the article here |
|
|
