Volume 13 Number 5/6 May/June 2012

This issue of HTB starts with reports from the recent UK BHIVA Conference, the Clinical Pharmacology Workshop and a few last studies from CROI. Together these reports include important aspects of care in the UK, new data on pipeline drugs and drug interactions and complications of HIV care.

Linking to earlier reports from CROI, we also review two papers from AIDS on renal health including a widely publicised US cohort study that reported significant associations between tenofovir and reduced markers of kidney function.

The regular news on generic approvals develops new relevance for services in the UK. Ten generic formulations of nevirapine recently received marketing approval for marketing in the US, as the originator patent ended last year. This also applies to coformulated AZT/3TC, with generic formulations also available.

Against an economic backdrop that is seeing established HIV care threatened by the services being opened to private tender, there will need to be a clear distinction for why many of these older drugs are no longer preferred in treatment guidelines.

This will make the new UK guidelines for adult care an essential reference for minimum standards of care.

Other guidelines published this month include updated pregnancy guidelines from BHIVA, new WHO guidelines on sero-different couples and a draft paper from NICE that includes reconising that suppressive ART, timed conception and related safety factors result in a minimal residual risk of transmission – something that will be crucial for couples unable to access sperm washing.

The treatment access news also features the “Stavudine Phase-out Festival” recently organised by HIV positive people in New Delhi, and this connects with the demands from ACT-UP, now commemorating their 25th year anniversary with a demonstration on Wall Street for both global access to treatment and better treatment.

In the links in this article we are proud to include the MSNBC news feature from the US Rachel Maddow show. As a former collaborater, activist and friend at the London organisation that gave birth to i-Base, it is good to see Rachel inspiring us with her humour, wit and political acumen, and eclipsing us with her media reach…

HTB Supplement

This issue of HTB includes a “Treatment Passport” as a supplement. This modest and understated booklet is designed to help HIV positive people track their HIV medical results and it particularly helpful for people who are newly diagnosed or just starting treatment.

As with all i-Base publications, these booklets are free in bulk to UK clinics and organisations.