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IAS 2011 Conference Begins July 17 In Rome – The sixth International AIDS Society (IAS) conference will take place in Rome July 17 to 20. The conference, which is held every two years, is the one of the largest worldwide on HIV and AIDS. Topics will include new treatments and treatment possibilities for HIV, research and management of side effects and complications of HIV and antiretroviral therapy, and progress toward a cure. Conference organizers expect around 5,000 attendees. The AIDS Beacon will be providing coverage of conference results. For more information, please see the IAS 2011 conference website.

NIAID Makes Five Year, Multi-Million Dollar Grants Toward HIV Cure Research – The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) announced today that it has granted more than $14 million per year for up to five years toward research for a cure for HIV. The new grants, part of the Martin Delaney Collaboratory of funding toward an HIV cure, focus on studying and eliminating reservoirs of latent HIV (HIV that lies dormant during antiretroviral therapy until treatment is stopped). Recipients include the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the University of California, San Francisco, and the Vaccine & Gene Therapy Institute of Florida. For more information please see the NIAID press release.

Theratechnologies Applies For Marketing Approval Of Egrifta In Israel – Theratechnologies, via its partner Sanofi, has applied for marketing approval of Egrifta (tesamorelin) in Israel. If approved, Egrifta will be the first drug in Israel to treat lipodystrophy, a condition of abnormal fat distribution that is a side effect of certain anti-HIV medications. Based on average approval times in Israel, a decision would be expected in mid-2013. Egrifta was approved in the U.S. in November of last year, and Theratechnologies’ partners have since applied for approval in Europe and Canada. For more information, please see the Theratechnologies press release.

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Johnson & Johnson Finds Trace Amounts Of Fungicide In Select Prezista Lots – The pharmaceutical company Janssen, a unit of Johnson & Johnson, has found trace amounts of the fungicide tribromoanisole (TBA) in certain lots of Prezista (darunavir) in Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Germany, and Austria. No contamination has been reported in the United States so far. The discovery was made after several consumer reports indicated the presence of a moldy, musty odor. No serious side effects have been reported due to the presence of TBA, although a small number of patients have reported stomach problems. Patients who smell a musty or moldy odor coming from their Prezista 400 mg or 600 mg tablets should immediately seek replacement medications from their pharmacists. Patients may also contact the company toll-free at 0800-032-3013 (phone number is in the U.K.). For more information, please see the Reuters article or the Janssen press release.

NIAID, White House Mark The 30th Anniversary Of HIV/AIDS – The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) and the White House will be holding events next week to mark the 30th anniversary of the first reports of AIDS in the U.S. NIAID Director Anthony Fauci will give a talk, titled “Thirty Years of HIV/AIDS: A Personal Journey,” at 2 p.m. EST on May 31, which will be streamed live over the Internet. In addition, the White House will hold a live video chat, including a question and answer session, at 1 p.m. EST on June 1. Viewers may submit questions online ahead of time or live during the chat. For more information, please see the Aids.gov website.

HRSA Releases “Living With HIV” Educational Video – The HIV/AIDS Bureau of the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) has released an educational video entitled “Living With HIV.” The video features patients talking about their personal experiences with HIV and AIDS, including their lifestyles and the stigma they have faced due to the disease. The video is part of The Living History project at the HIV/AIDS Bureau. For more information, please see the Aids.gov website or the video on YouTube.

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Free HIV Testing Offered At Washington, D.C., DMV – On October 5, the Penn Branch of the Washington, D.C., Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) began offering free HIV testing to customers as they wait. Participants receive the results in 20 minutes, along with up to $15 to help pay for their DMV services. Immediate counseling and medical care are also available. The program is a joint effort between the D.C.-area non-profit organization Family and Medical Counseling Service, the Penn Branch DMV, and Gilead Sciences, which has provided the funding. For more information, please see The Washington Post.

October 15 Is National Latino AIDS Awareness Day – October 15 marks the eighth National Latino AIDS Awareness Day. Its purpose is to raise awareness of the impact of HIV and AIDS on the Latino community, with a focus on prevention and HIV testing efforts for Latino men and women. In a statement commemorating the day, Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, noted that Latino men and women have the second highest death rate from HIV and AIDS of all ethnic groups. He also recognized the high clinical trial participation rates for Latinos, which help bring new research and treatments to the HIV/AIDS population. For more information, please see the National Latino AIDS Awareness Day website.

NIAID To Hold Public Meeting On Restructuring Its HIV/AIDS Clinical Trial Networks – The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) is hosting a public meeting on October 26 in Arlington, VA to discuss the future of the organization’s clinical trial networks. NIAID seeks to expand its networks to include clinical research on other major infectious diseases, including tuberculosis and hepatitis, that are common in people with HIV. Discussion will center on expectations for the networks, possible changes in structure, research priorities, collaborative opportunities, and information about the upcoming application process. Presently, NIAID supports six HIV/AIDS networks; their funding expires in 2013 and 2014. For more information or to register to attend the meeting, please see the NIAID website.

United States Pledges $4 Billion For Global Fund To Fight HIV/AIDS – The Obama Administration announced last week that it will support the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria by contributing $4 billion over the next 3 years. However, the Administration also called for reforms to the Fund in specific areas, such as grant management and accountability, more effective investments, and increased contributions from other donor nations. The Fund provides prevention efforts and treatment for people living in low-income countries. For more information, please see the U.S. Department of State website.

For a more detailed listing of HIV/AIDS related events, please check the AIDS Beacon Events Calendar.

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This year, February 7 will mark the tenth annual National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, a day created to memorialize those African Americans lost to the pandemic, as well as to raise awareness and support needed to fight it.

In commemoration, Anthony S. Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) at the National Institutes of Health, has released a statement addressing the importance of the day. He also details what has already been accomplished, and what obstacles still remain in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

National…

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On January 15, The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) announced a new clinical trial that examines additional regimens to reduce the risk of mother-to-child HIV transmission during breastfeeding.

This could potentially make breastfeeding safer for HIV-positive mothers and their children.

Science, as well as conventional wisdom, continues to affirm that mother’s milk is nature’s miracle food for infants, and researchers are looking for ways to make sure that breastfeeding is a viable option for every mother, even those with HIV.

Complex antiretroviral (ART) strategies are available in…