Times Live Blog: Promising results in blocking HIV during first days of infection: M2010
May 2010
Up one levelNot just a handmaiden: Critical role of social science in HIV Prevention Research
By Bobby Ramakant (Citizen-News) 25 May 2010: It is well understood that both the efficacy and effectiveness of HIV Prevention research trial products (such as microbicides) depends upon their actual use by the clinical trial participants. “Use is a function of human behavior and action that is affected by an individual, interpersonal, social, and cultural factors that operate interactively in complex, dynamic and varied ways across settings” said Dr Judith D Auerbach, Vice President for Science and Public Policy at the San Francisco AIDS Foundation, USA.
HIV risk for men doubles during pregnancy
(Times of India) May 24, 2010: Previous studies have shown that women of reproductive age, especially when pregnant are highly prone to HIV infection.
New Vision: Ugandan researchers at HIV conference in America
By Hilary Bainemigisha (The New Vision) 24 May 2010: Over 30 Ugandan researchers and experts are in the US for the international conference that opened in Pittsburgh on Saturday.
Agencia AIDS: Paper film with antiretroviral passes in primary tests to protect women from HIV (translated from Portuguese)
24 May 2010
Researchers try new approaches to preventing HIV
By Maggie Fox & Xavier Briand (Reuters) 24 May 2010: Tablets, insertable rings and dissolving films can effectively deliver drugs to help protect women and perhaps men from infection with the AIDS virus, researchers reported on Monday.
Microbicides safe during pregnancy
By Lungi Langa 24 May 2010: Pittsburgh – A microbicide that researchers are pinning their hopes on is safe for use in pregnant women, according to a study presented at the Microbicide 2010 conference taking place in the United States this week.
HIV/AIDS research to continue despite recent setbacks
By Paidamoyo Chipunza (The Herald) 24 May 2010: HIV and Aids researchers have vowed to continue responding to the pandemic through research despite negative results in recent human trials.
Crunch time for microbicides, says top researcher
By Gus Cairns (Aidsmap News) 24 May 2010: Crunch time for microbicides, says top researcher. Professor Robin Shattock, director of the microbicide research programme at St George’s Hospital in London, warned delegates in an opening plenary at the Microbicides 2010 Conference in Pittsburgh yesterday that “we stand at a critical timepoint in microbicide development”.
Six existing drug classes now being tested as microbicides
By Gus Cairns (Aidsmap News) 24 May 2010: Six existing drug classes now being tested as microbicides. A number of presentations at the Microbicides 2010 Conference in Pittsburgh concerned microbicide research using established classes of HIV drugs that have not been used as microbicides before.
Pregnancy Doubles Risk for HIV Infection in Men
By Bob Roehr (Medscape Medical News) 24 May 2010: Pregnancy Doubles Risk for HIV Infection in Men. A man's risk of becoming infected with HIV doubles when his HIV-infected female partner become pregnant, according to a first-ever study presented here at the 2010 International Microbicides Conference (M2010), organized and supported in part by the University of Pittsburgh.
Microbicides Conference Opens Amid High Expectations
By David Bryden (Science Speaks Blog) 24 May 2010: Microbicides Conference Opens Amid High Expectations. An exciting conference on microbicides for HIV prevention has gotten underway in Pittsburgh, Penn.
Study is step toward Preventing HIV Transmission to Pregnant Women
By Larkin Page-Jacos (DUQ) 24 May 2010: Study is step toward Preventing HIV Transmission to Pregnant Women. Young women of reproductive age are among those at the greatest risk of acquiring HIV.
Vaginal Gel Developed that Could Protect from HIV
By Kathleen Blanchard (emaxHealth) 23 May 2010: Vaginal Gel developed that Could Protect from HIV. Researchers say a vaginal gel could protect from HIV, based on preliminary findings in monkeys that obtained protection from a virus similar to HIV. The study is the first experiment using an antimicrobial gel with an integrase inhibitor that is currently used to prevent HIV from replicating and taken orally by HIV infected patients.
New study: HIV risk greater for men with pregnant partners
By Jill Daly (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette) Sunday, May 23, 2010: A new study has found that some men may be at greater risk of contracting the HIV virus when their female partner is pregnant, according to results presented today at the International Microbicides Conference at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center, Downtown.
Media Outlets Highlight Studies Presented at International Microbicides Conference
(thebody.com) 24 May 2010: A study in Africa, presented Sunday at the International Microbicides Conference (M2010) in Pittsburgh, has shown that a man's risk of HIV infection doubles if his HIV-positive partner is pregnant, according to HealthDay News/U.S. News & World Report.
Microbicides that do more than gel: Vaginal rings, tablets and films
(Eurekalert) 24 May 2010: Microbicides that do more than gel: Vaginal rings, tablets and films. Microbicides that do more than gel: Vaginal rings, tablets and films New research presented at International Microbicides Conference, May 22-25
Female to Male AIDS Transmission Higher in Pregnancy
By Rachel Stockton (Food Consumer) 24 May 2010: Female to Male AIDS Transmission Higher in Pregnancy. The University of Nairobi and the Kenyatta National Hospital have worked in tandem on a study that confirms that men who sleep with pregnant, AIDS infected women double their risk of contracting the disease.
Tribune-Review: Gels, creams could prevent HIV spread
By Luis Fabregas (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review) 21 May, 2010: Gels, creams could prevent HIV spread. Despite advances in the treatment of HIV, experts warn that the global fight against the disease has a long way to go.
Female-to-Male HIV Transmission Risk Doubles During Pregnancy
By Alan Mozes (HealthDay News) Monday, May 24, 2010: Female-to-Male HIV Transmission Risk Doubles During Pregnancy. More research is needed to explore reasons why, study authors say
Lady rings, tablets, films to ward of HIV
(Independent) 24 May 2010: Lady rings, tablets, films to ward of HIV. On May 24, at M2010, the sixth biennial meeting of the International Microbicides Conference in Pittsburgh, researchers presented three new drug delivery methods to protect women against HIV-AIDS.
Pregnancy ups HIV risk in negative partner
(Independent) 23 May 2010: Pregnancy ups HIV risk in negative partner. Research presented at the M2010, the 6th biennial International Microbicides Conference in Pittsburgh, on May 23 detailed a novel study that has found HIV transmission from a pregnant positive partner increases two-fold in HIV negative men.
HIV-infected pregnant woman doubles infection risk for men
Written by Natural Health Team (25 May 2010): HIV-infected pregnant woman doubles infection risk for men. BEIJING, May 25 (Xinhuanet) -- Risk doubles for a man whose HIV-infected female partner is pregnant, a study conducted on more than 3,300 African couples showed.
Promising results in blocking HIV during first days of infection: M2010
By Claire Keeton (Times Live Blog) 24 May 2010: Two pilot studies to test an innovative way to block SIV (the monkey version of HIV) infection early on are showing encouraging results, Dr Ashley Hasse told a plenary session this morning at the M2010 Microbicides conference in Pittsburgh.
Vaginal gel offers protection against HIV
(Times of India) 24 May 2010: Vaginal gel offers protection against HIV. In a test on monkeys, a vaginal microbicide based on a new type of anti-HIV drug could offer significant protection against infection with a virus similar to HIV, researchers have found.
Using ARVs to prevent HIV could result in drug resistance if routine screening is not done
(Eurekalert) 24 May 2010: Using ARVs to prevent HIV could result in drug resistance if routine screening is not done. Their scientific methods may have been quite different, but their conclusions were not. In asking whether drug resistance could be a problem if antiretroviral (ARV) drugs become a mainstay for HIV prevention, the two studies – one involving a mathematical model and the other assays of cells and tissue – arrived at the same answer.
PrEP needs to be well controlled, monitored to prevent HIV drug resistance
By Claire Keeton (Times Live Blog) 24 May 2010: ANYONE who is going to take antiretroviral drugs for prevention – either orally or through a microbicide – must know his or her HIV status to avoid drug resistance developing, Dr John Mellors from the University of Pittsburgh said at the M2010 Microbicides conference today.
Experts wary that drug resistance could rise with ARV-based microbicide use
By Henry Neondo (ASNS) 24 May 2010: Two studies--one involving mathematical modeling and the other a cells and tissue assay conducted both in the US and Canada respectively but released at the ongoing international conference on microbicides in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, US show that drug resistance could be a problem if antiretroviral (ARV) drugs become a mainstay for HIV prevention.
Africa ripe for rectal microbicides
By Henry Neondo (ASNS) 24 May 2010: Africa needs microbicides for both vaginal and rectal use in prevention of mucosal infection of HIV, a mini-symposium at the ongoing International Microbicides Conference in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, US was told. The symposium heard that the contribution to HIV flame in Africa by the anal route is still under-reported and that time to unpack the myth was long overdue.
Partner pregnant? HIV risk doubles
By Claire Keeton (Times Live) 24 May 2010 : The risk of men being infected by HIV doubles when their partners are pregnant, according to new findings presented today at the M2010 Microbicides: Building Bridges in HIV Prevention conference.
New drugs in the pipeline for anti-HIV microbicides: results presented at M2010
By Claire Keeton (Times Live Blog) 24 May 2010: SCIENTISTS today presented “promising data” on what drugs could prove effective in the next generation of microbicides to stop the sexual transmission of HIV.
Times Live: Microbicides progressing well in fight against HIV
By Claire Keeton (Times Live) 24 May 2010: The development of new microbicides to protect against HIV infection is progressing steadily with promising options in the pipeline, researchers reported today at the M2010 Microbicides conference in Pittsburgh, in the US.
HIV risk for men during pregnancy
(BBC News) 23 May 2010: HIV risk for men during pregnancy. Men have double the risk of catching HIV if their partner is pregnant, say researchers.
Pregnancy doubles HIV risk in men; first trial of a microbicide in pregnant women
(Eurekalert) 23 May 2010: Pregnancy doubles HIV risk in men; first trial of a microbicide in pregnant women. Young women of reproductive-age are among those at greatest risk of acquiring HIV, and several studies have suggested that during pregnancy women are even more susceptible to infection.
Vaginal gel with integrase inhibitor shows promise in monkeys
(Eurekalert) 23 May 2010: Vaginal gel with integrase inhibitor shows promise in monkeys. Researchers testing a vaginal microbicide based on a new type of anti-HIV drug found it provided monkeys significant protection against infection with a virus similar to HIV, according to a study reported at the International Microbicides Conference in Pittsburgh today.
Times Live Blog: M2010 Microbicides: HIV prevention conference opens tonight
by Claire Keeton (23 May 2010): The use of ARVs in microbicides to prevent HIV, rectal microbicides, the risks of getting HIV during pregnancy and anal sex, and new formulations like films and vaginal rings are “hot topics” for M2010, according to the co-chairman Dr Ian McGowan.
Vaginal gel shows promise in monkeys
By Henry Neondo (ASNS) 23 May 2010: Researchers testing a vaginal microbicide based on a new type of anti-HIV drug found it provided monkeys significant protection against simian/human immunodeficiency virus (SHIV) – a combination of HIV and a related monkey virus, a virus similar to HIV, according to a study reported at the International Microbicides Conference in Pittsburgh, Sunday.
Where was the polio vaccine discovered?
By Claire Keeton (Times Live Blog) 23 May 2010: Pittsburgh, the host city of the M2010 Microbicides conference this week, is also the city where Jonas Salk developed the polio vaccine.
South African activist wants microbicides field opened up
By Henry Neondo (ASNS) 23 May 2010: Outside advances in science, activism could correctly be said to have been the single most major contributor to the successes, development and wide accessibility of Anti-retroviral drugs that have helped in the management of HIV.
Women like using anti-HIV microbicide gels during sex
By Claire Keeton (Times Live Blog) 23 May 2010: Microbicide gels are acceptable to most women during sex, the results of three studies presented today at the M2010 Microbicides conference showed.
State of the ART of microbicides
By Bobby Ramakant (Citizen-News, The Zimbabwe Telegraph, Healthdev.net) 23 May 2010: The microbicides field has undoubtedly moved and shifted a lot in the past decade. Now, with first generation microbicides candidate products up and gone, antiretroviral treatment (ART)-drug based microbicides in spotlight, and only three major microbicides efficacy studies remaining, the need to lobby for increased funding of microbicides research and development, was never so compelling.
M2010 Microbicides: HIV prevention conference opens tonight
By Claire Keeton (Times Live Blog) 23 May 2010: The use of ARVs in microbicides to prevent HIV, rectal microbicides, the risks of getting HIV during pregnancy and anal sex, and new formulations like films and vaginal rings are “hot topics” for M2010, according to the co-chairman Dr Ian McGowan.
HIV researchers congregate in the US
By Tsitsi Jonas (The Standard) 23 May 2010: Zimbabwean researchers will this week join experts from the rest of the world searching for more effective HIV prevention methods at the International Microbicides Conference in Pittsburgh, United States.
New Report outlines the growing field of Rectal Microbicide R&D
(Eurekalert) 19 May 2010: International Rectal Microbicide Advocates release update on new HIV prevention technology: New report outlines the growing field of rectal microbicide R&D
AP: Latest attempt to block HIV: Stronger vaginal gels
By Lauran Neergaard (Associated Press) 17 May 2010: Try after try to make vaginal creams that could repel the AIDS virus have failed. Now researchers are testing if a drug used to treat HIV infection finally might give women a tool to prevent it-by infusing the medicine into vaginal gels and contraceptive-style rings.
Zambia: Mwanachingwala, Catholic Church welcome investigations into microbicide gel saga
(Lusaka Times) Sunday, January 24, 2010: Chief Mwanachingwala and the Catholic church in Mazabuka have welcomed the decision by the Human rights commission to institute investigations into how the 46 women who participated in the Microbicide Gel clinical trial contracted the HIV virus.
ZNAN describes microbicide trial results as unfortunate
By Masuzyo Chakwe (Post Zambia) Sun 24 Jan. 2010: ZNAN describes microbicide trial results as unfortunate. In an interview on Friday, Mataka, who is also United Nations secretary general special envoy on AIDS in Africa, said the results of the Mazabuka microbicide trial showed that there was no safe and effective microbicide.
Microbicide Trial Pressure in Zambia
Friday 15 January 2010, 08:17: Pressure is mounting on the microbicide development program in Zambia to come out and explain itself on the failed microbicide trials which led to the infection of women in Mazabuka, a town in southern Zambia.