Scientists and researchers from around the globe met last week for the 17th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI), a four-day conference presenting the latest research about prevention, treatment, and insight into HIV/AIDS and its complications.

Topics ran the gamut from novel therapies to public health strategies aimed at the global pandemic.

What follows are a few of the developments from the conference.

The View From NIAID

On the first day of the conference, Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), addressed…

Progression of HIV could potentially be slowed with acyclovir (Zovirax), a commonly available antiviral medication used to treat herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2). This study is slated to be published in the medical journal The Lancet.

The findings were based on a Phase 3 trial that evaluated more than 3,000 heterosexuals in 14 sites in Africa infected with both HSV-2 and HIV.

For the randomized trial, Dr. Jairam Lingappa of the University of Washington and colleagues from around the world looked at participants randomly assigned 400 mg of acyclovir…

A recently published study led by researchers at the University of Washington verified that a drug intended to suppress herpes failed to slow down HIV transmission through sex, but the study has other potentials, a researcher says.

Acyclovir (Zovirax), which targets Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2), was administered to approximately 3,400 serodiscordant — one partner HIV-positive and the other HIV-negative — couples in a Phase 3 clinical trial. HIV-positive participants also carried HSV-2.

The clinical and placebo groups had similar results in that the use of acyclovir did not…