Non-technical summary of articles in HTB October 2023
1 October 2023. Related: Editorial.
Simon Collins, HIV i-Base
A short guide to articles in the October edition of HTB.
1. Editorial
This is an extra issue of HTB as we published enough articles last week to bring these forward from November.
We lead with information about Uganda where human and civil rights abuses against LGBTQI+ people and people who support them have increased after the recent Anti-Homosexuality Act.
Other articles include IAS 2023 conference reports and other news – see below.
2. Special report
Uganda report: Increase in LGBTQI+ assaults and human rights violations need urgent activist responses
https://i-base.info/htb/46384
Carefully documented cases of abuse from the first eight months of the year, together with recommendations on how this law needs to be overturned.
Our comment on the abuse also refers to speeches by the UK Home Secretary that support the atrocities in Uganda, including the death penalty, by not recognising these crimes as a reason to apply for asylum.
This is an issue that affects us all and that we can all help with.
3. IAS 2023: further reports
Six more reports from this major conference held in Australia in July.
Reports on research include:
First results from a small study using long acting cabotegravir/rilpivirine injections as first treatment, rather than a switch option. Many people who do not want to take daily pills might struggle if they have to become undetectable on oral pills first. Soon they might not have to.
https://i-base.info/htb/46439
Summary of the 6-monthly lenacapavir injection – including that the oral weekly pill also works.
https://i-base.info/htb/46406
A review of studies on the immune-based treatments called bNAbs which can be used for treatment and prevention. This cutting-edge research might let some people safely stop ART for a year and still keep viral load undetectable. And one of these studies – called RIO – is running in the UK.
https://i-base.info/htb/46426
Dolutegravir and adherence support can get viral load back to undetectable.
https://i-base.info/htb/46331
Tiny study on using bitcegravir during pregnancy – and our editorial comments show why even good news must be taken with caution.
https://i-base.info/htb/46279
4. The EU approves injectable PrEP
An essential first step if this new option is to become more widely available.
The injections work but pricing complicates access compared to generic oral PrEP, that can be as low at $10 a month.
https://i-base.info/htb/46320
5. Early phase 1 study for potential HIV vaccine.
Good news of course, this research does need to continue.
But at least one high profile vaccine expert – Dr Anthony Fauci – who likely supported this work earlier – cautions on unlikely efficacy. Serious practical complications include how to run vaccine studies now that PrEP is widely available.
https://i-base.info/htb/46340
Recently published research
The issue also includes several short reviews of recently published studies.
6. A study reports that weight gain on ART is a clinical concern for increasing the risk of other health problems – so needs to be taken seriously.
https://i-base.info/htb/46367
7. Drug resistance and the dapivirine vaginal ring – an important consideration, but as with oral PrEP, many women only use the ring for a few months, rather than it becoming a long-term way to protect against HIV.
https://i-base.info/htb/46362
Please see the full online articles about all these studies.
8. Community survey on New-fill to correct facial fat loss
There is still time to give your views on this service in the UK.
Have you needed this in the past? Are you still able to access New-fill? Although this is only linked to the early HIV drugs AZT and d4T (stavudine), access to New-fill change your life.
https://i-base.info/htb/45980
Until next time…