POZ - Treatment News

Impact of CD4s on HCV Treatment Uncertain
The results of two studies are at odds regarding whether or not people coinfected with HIV and hepatitis C virus (HCV) must have high CD4 counts if they are to respond well to HCV treatment.

December 28, 2007

HIV-Positive Women Have Higher Risk of Bone Fractures
HIV-positive women face a greater risk of bone fracture than HIV-negative women, despite having the same bone mineral density, say the authors of a study published in Osteoporosis International.

December 27, 2007

Viral Load During Pregnancy: Lower the Better
An undetectable viral load, continuation of HIV treatment throughout pregnancy and full-term delivery are associated with the lowest risk of mother-to-child HIV transmission.

December 26, 2007

Asymptomatic Ischemia Common in HIV
Asymptomatic ischemic heart disease is common among HIV-positive people, according to new data from the SMART study.

December 21, 2007

Isentress Wins Approval in European Union
The HIV integrase inhibitor Isentress has been approved for use in the European Union.

First-Line Therapy Approval Requested for Prezista
Tibotec is seeking expanded approval for Prezista to allow first-time treatment takers to use the protease inhibitor.

December 20, 2007

Trofile Bests SensiTrop as Most Reliable Tropism Test
Pathway Diagnostics’ SensiTrop assay is faster and potentially cheaper than Monogram’s Trofile HIV tropism test, but it may not be as reliable.

December 19, 2007

Drug Holidays Dangerous for Treatment-Experienced
For HIV-positive people with few remaining treatment options and compromised immune systems, remaining on an antiretroviral regimen that is no longer keeping viral load undetectable continues to protect against new AIDS-related illnesses, according to a study published in the January 15 issue of Clinical Infectious Diseases.

December 18, 2007

Atripla Approved in Europe
Gilead Sciences and Bristol-Myers Squibb announced on December 17 that the European Commission has granted full approval of Atripla for use in 27 European Union countries.

December 17, 2007

Fish Oil Plus Fenofibrate Good for High Triglycerides
Fish oil supplements, combined with the lipid-lowering drug fenofibrate (Tricor), reduced triglycerides to normal levels in a significant percentage of HIV-positive people who did not respond to either therapy alone, according to the results of an AIDS Clinical Trials Group (ACTG), made available online in advance of publication in the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes.

December 14, 2007

IVIG Reduces Immune Activation, Boosts CD4 Cells
Intravenous Immunoglobulin (IVIG) reduced immune activation and increased CD4 cells in HIV-positive people, according to a study published in AIDS Research and Human Retroviruses.

December 13, 2007

Gilead & BMS to Market Atripla in Europe
Gilead Sciences and Bristol-Myers Squibb have agreed to bring Atripla to countries in the European Union (EU), according to a press release issued by the companies.

HAART Improves Survival With Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
The use of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) significantly increased survival in people with HIV diagnosed with AIDS-related Hodgkin’s lymphoma, according to a study published online in the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes.

December 12, 2007

Viramune Protective Against Hep C Liver Damage
Treatment regimens that included Viramune (nevirapine) lowered the risk of liver fibrosis progression—especially in people who used it longest—in people coinfected with HIV and hepatitis C virus (HCV), according to a study published in the January 1 issue of Clinical Infectious Diseases.

Triple-Class Drug Failure Uncommon After 10 Years of HAART Use
The risk of developing extensive drug resistance is low 10 years after starting antiretroviral therapy, according to researchers involved with a United Kingdom study published December 8 in The Lancet and reported by AIDSmap.

December 11, 2007

Viread With Boosted PIs Worse for Kidneys
People who took Viread with a Norvir-boosted protease inhibitor had greater declines in kidney function than people taking Viread with a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor, or people taking a regimen without Viread, researchers report.

December 10, 2007

Hep C Treatment Response at Week 4 Predicts Success
Achieving an undetectable hepatitis C virus (HCV) viral load by the fourth week of HCV treatment is highly predictive of treatment effectiveness in people also with HIV, according to study results published in the January 2 issue of AIDS.

December 07, 2007

High Rate of False Positives at DC Clinics
Twenty-two percent of HIV-positive test results by oral fluid rapid testing at two Whitman Walker clinics turned out to be either HIV negative or non-determinant when confirmed with blood tests, say researchers from a study presented at the National HIV Prevention Conference.

Are We Ready for PrEP?
The potential success of a large pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) trial is prompting the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to begin preparations now, say officials at the 2007 National HIV Prevention Conference in Atlanta.

Tesamorelin KO’s Belly Fat
Treatment with the synthetic human growth hormone-releasing factor, tesamorelin, resulted in a significant loss of visceral adipose tissue—deep belly fat—compared with a placebo in people with lipodystrophy, according to a new article published in the December 6 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM).

DHHS Unveils Revised U.S. Treatment Guidelines
Antiretroviral therapy should be started by all HIV-positive people with CD4 counts below 350, according to revised HIV treatment guidelines released earlier this week by the United States Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).

December 06, 2007

Sodomy Laws Bad for HIV
While sodomy is no longer a crime anywhere in the United States, states where such prohibitive laws remained in place until four years ago saw the fewest reductions in AIDS cases between 1995 and 2003.

Serious Mental Illness and Addiction in Newly Diagnosed
A significant percentage of newly infected and diagnosed HIV-positive people had a history of serious mental illness and alcohol and drug problems, according to a small San Diego-based study.

Party Drug Use Waning in NYC Gay and Bisexual Men
The use of crystal methamphetamine and other party drugs, such as ecstasy, ketamine and GHB, has begun to decrease among gay and bisexual men in New York City.

Newly Infected People Change Risky Behaviors After Diagnosis
After receiving their diagnosis, people in the acute phase of HIV infection are quick to adopt behaviors that will help protect others from the virus.

December 05, 2007

Circumcision Not Protective in U.S. Gay/Bisexual Men
The positive effect of circumcision on HIV transmission rates in resource-poor countries has made headlines over the past year. Within the United States, however, it is not protective for black and Latino men who have sex with men (MSM), according to new data presented at the 2007 National HIV Prevention Conference in Atlanta.

HIV Rates Declining in Some Older Americans
The rate of new HIV and AIDS diagnoses among blacks and Hispanics ages 50 and older declined in recent years, whereas it has increased among older whites.

HIV Rates Increasing Most in Young Black Gay/Bisexual Men
The sharpest increase in HIV diagnoses is occurring among young black men who have sex with men (MSM), notably those in their teens and early 20s.

December 04, 2007

Black MSM Have Higher HIV Rates Despite Similar Risks
Black men who have sex with men (MSM) are seven times more likely than their white counterparts to be infected with HIV. The reason for this is unclear, in light of new research presented yesterday at the 2007 National HIV Prevention Conference in Atlanta suggesting that they are no more likely to engage in high-risk sex and are actually less likely to use street drugs than white MSM.

HIV Testing? Not in My ER
HIV testing in people at higher risk of infection did not increase between 1994 and 2004, despite specific recommendations from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Non-Injection Drug Use Linked to Greater HIV Infection Risk
The use of poppers and erectile dysfunction drugs is strongly associated with recent HIV infection in men who have sex with men (MSM), according to a study presented yesterday at the 2007 National HIV Prevention Conference in Atlanta.

December 03, 2007

Plan to Reduce Late HIV Diagnoses in Europe
Approximately 100 clinicians, activists and policy makers have endorsed plans to promote earlier diagnosis of HIV infection throughout Europe.

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