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Early Antiretroviral Treatment Reduces Risk Of HIV Transmission – Results of a recent study show that early treatment with antiretroviral therapy reduces the transmission of HIV by up to 96 percent. The study included 1,763 couples in which one partner was HIV positive and the other HIV negative. They were randomly assigned to two treatment groups: one started antiretroviral therapy immediately and the other deferred treatment. A total of 28 new cases of HIV occurred, all but one of which were in the delayed treatment group. The study has been ended early due to the promising results. For more information, please see the National Institutes of Health press release or the New York Times article.

Utah Closes ADAP For New HIV Patients – The Utah Department of Health has closed its AIDS Drugs Assistance Program (ADAP) to new HIV patients. According to the program’s administrator, increasing demand for free medication among uninsured or low-income Utah residents along with flat federal funding have caused the program to run out of money for new patients. Current aid recipients will continue to receive assistance. The health department encourages individuals who cannot afford medications to seek aid from pharmaceutical companies. For more information, please see the related article in the Salt Lake Tribune.

Napo Sues Salix Over HIV-Associated Diarrhea Drug – Napo Pharmaceuticals is suing Salix Pharmaceuticals for breaching a contract to develop the prospective diarrhea drug crofelemer for use in people with HIV. In the suit, Napo contends that Salix, which licensed the drug from Napo, has failed to adequately pursue FDA approval; representatives from Napo have stated that they wish to terminate the contract. Salix contends that the lawsuit has no merit and that it will continue to develop the drug and market it as planned. For more information, please see the related article in Medcity News.

May 19 Marks National Asian And Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness Day – On May 19, the Banyan Tree Project will lead activities to commemorate Asian and Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness Day and to decrease the stigma surrounding HIV and AIDS in Asian and Pacific Islander communities. Asian and Pacific Islanders constitute approximately 1 percent of HIV-positive individuals in the United States. Organizations that support HIV and AIDS causes in Asian and Pacific Islander communities will be hosting events to raise awareness across the country. For more information, please see the AIDS.gov website.

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ViiV Healthcare Applies For FDA Approval For Once-Daily Selzentry Dosage – ViiV Healthcare submitted a supplemental new drug application for Selzentry (maraviroc) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for a once-daily dosage of 150 mg in treatment-experienced patients. The once-daily dose would only be prescribed for patients who are taking boosted protease inhibitor regimens and who are not taking Sustiva (efavirenz). Selzentry is currently approved at dosages of 150 mg, 300 mg, or 600 mg twice daily. ViiV Healthcare also applied for European regulatory approval for the new dosage. For more information, please see the ViiV Healthcare press release.

NIH Expands Phase 4 Clinical Trial On Early HIV Treatment Initiation – The U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced last week that they have expanded the Strategic Timing of Antiretroviral Treatment (START) clinical trial and are currently recruiting participants. The START trial aims to determine the benefits and risks of starting therapy early, at CD4 (white blood cell) counts above 500 cells per microliter, as compared to waiting until counts drop to 350. The World Health Organization currently recommends starting treatment at a CD4 count of 350; U.S. guidelines recommend starting at 500. The NIH decided to expand the trial after a successful pilot study involving 1,000 participants. The expanded trial will include up to 4,000 participants worldwide. For more information, please see the NIH press release or the U.S. Clinical Trials Registry.

“Big Bang Theory” And “Pushing Daisies” Actors To Debut In Broadway AIDS Play “The Normal Heart” – Jim Parsons and Lee Pace, the Emmy award-winning stars of the television comedies “The Big Bang Theory” and “Pushing Daisies,” will be debuting in a new Broadway production of “The Normal Heart.” The play centers around HIV/AIDS activists in New York City in the early 1980s. The play will preview April 19 with an opening night of April 27. It will run for 12 weeks. Additional cast members include Ellen Barkin, John Benjamin Hickey, and Tony award-winner Joe Mantello. For more information, please see the New York Times article or “The Normal Heart” website.

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The National Institutes of Health announced this week that Kaletra may be more effective at treating HIV-positive children than Viramune. A recent review of data from a clinical trial in India and Africa found that twice as many children taking Viramune failed to adequately respond to treatment or stopped taking their medications.

The trial organizers recommended that parents of children taking a Viramune (nevirapine)-based antiretroviral therapy regimen consult with their health care providers about the best treatment for their children.

“Children currently on antiretroviral therapy who are doing well may…

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NIH Commemorates National Gay Men’s HIV/AIDS Awareness Day – Monday, September 27, will mark the third annual National Gay Men’s HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NGMHAAD). Its purpose is to raise awareness of gay men’s fight against HIV and AIDS, and includes prevention and HIV testing efforts for gay men. In a statement commemorating the day, Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, noted that HIV still has a significant impact on gay and bisexual men, particularly black men of 13 to 29 years of age who have sex with other men. He also recognized the roles gay and bisexual men have played in increasing awareness about the public health impact of AIDS, shaping AIDS research, and advocating for research funding. For more information, please see the National Institutes of Health website. To find NGMHAAD events or register your own event, please see AIDS.gov.

Arizona Considers Legalizing Medical Marijuana – Voters in Arizona will decide November 2 whether to legalize medical marijuana in the state. Proposition 203 would allow licensed physicians in Arizona to recommend the drug to patients with certain medical conditions, including HIV/AIDS. This is the fourth attempt to legalize medical marijuana in Arizona. Medical marijuana is not currently approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration, but several states have legalized it to provide relief for patients with serious illnesses. For more information, please see the article on The Arizona Republic website.

Governor Paterson Vetoes Rent Relief For AIDS Patients In New York – Governor David Paterson vetoed a bill last week that proposed additional rent subsidies for approximately 11,000 New Yorkers with HIV/AIDS. Under the terms of the bill, people who receive housing assistance from New York’s HIV/AIDS Services Administration would have had to spend no more than 30 percent of their income on rent. Paterson vetoed the bill because he believes it would strain New York’s tight finances. Paterson stated that he will support the bill if the Legislature makes clear how the costs, estimated at $20 million, would be covered. For more information, please see the article on The New York Times website.

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AIDS Documentary Premieres Today In New York And Washington, D.C. – A documentary on the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Washington, D.C. premieres today in New York City and Washington, D.C. The film, which is titled “The Other City,” follows several HIV-positive individuals and their struggles, as well as efforts by AIDS activists and organizations to fight the epidemic with limited financial resources. The film will also be screened September 21 in Chicago and September 24 in Los Angeles. For more information, please see The Other City’s website.

NIH Commemorates September 18 As National HIV/AIDS And Aging Awareness Day – Tomorrow will mark the third annual National HIV/AIDS and Aging Awareness Day (NHAAAD). Its purpose is to raise awareness of the challenges faced by older patients living with HIV/AIDS, as well as promotion of HIV prevention in older populations. In addition, the National Institutes of Health announced that it is currently accepting proposals for research studying HIV and aging through its Medical Management of Older Patients with HIV/AIDS grant program. For more information, please see the National Institutes of Health website. To find NHAAAD events or register your own event, please see AIDS.gov.

Abbott Recalls Select HIV Tests – Abbott Laboratories has issued a recall on a select number of its Prism HIV O Plus HIV tests, lot number 87334M500. Abbott has received several customer complaints about calibration failures, which prevent the test from reporting results. Customers are being asked to discontinue use of this lot if an alternate lot is available. Those without an alternate supply are asked to continue using the current lot until replacements arrive. For more information, please see the FDA website.