NAPWA

The International AIDS Conference heard promising reports about the newer HIV treatments designed to help treat people with advanced and drug-resistantHIV which has mutated and is less susceptible to the effects of one or more anti-HIV drugs is said to be resistant. HIV, all of which are now available in Australia. read more »

A warning has been issued by Tibotec, the manufacturers of Prezista (darunavir) regarding the risk of developing drug- induced hepatitis while taking the treatment. read more »

John Daye, NAPWA's Health, Treatments & Research Portfolio Co-Convenor reports from the 15th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI) held in Boston, USA from 3-6 February 2008 read more »

Finding effective treatment options for people who have taken many treatments and have multiple resistanceHIV which has mutated and is less susceptible to the effects of one or more anti-HIV drugs is said to be resistantHIV which has mutated and is less susceptible to the effects of one or more anti-HIV drugs is said to be resistant.. mutations continues to be a significant challenge for HIV clinicians, and their patients. read more »

The 16th International AIDS Conference highlighted numerous important and promising developments in HIV treatments. JOHN DAYE reports. read more »

In September 2006, the International Association of Physicians in AIDS Care will mark a decade of highly active antiretroviralA medication or other substance which is active against retroviruses such as HIV. therapy. Has it really been 10 years since the so-called Protease Moment? KIRSTY MACHON reports on where we have come from – and where to from here. read more »

The 13th annual Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI) took place in Denver, Colorado, from February 5 to 8. The major breaking news from this conference was the premature cancellation of the SMART studyA clinicalPertaining to or founded on observation and treatment of participants, as distinguished from theoretical or basic science. trialA clinical trial is a research study to answer specific questions about vaccines or new therapies or new ways of using known treatments. Clinical trials are used to determine whether new drugs or treatments are both safe and effective. Carefully conducted clinical trials are the fastest and safest way to find treatments that work in people. Trials are in four phases: Phase I tests a new drug or treatment in a small group; Phase II expands the study to a larger group of people; Phase III expands the study to an even larger group of people; and Phase IV takes place after the drug or treatment has been licensed and marketed. is a research study to answer specific questions about vaccines or new therapies or new ways of using known treatments. Clinical trials are used to determine whether new drugs or treatments are both safe and effective. Carefully conducted clinical trials are the fastest and safest way to find treatments that work in people. Trials are in four phases: Phase IA clinical trial designed to establish whether an experimental drug is safe for humans to take. Phase I studies determine the metabolism and pharmacologic actions of drugs in humans, the side effects associated with increasing doses, and look for early evidence of effectiveness; these studies may include either people with HIV, HIV-negative volunteers, or both tests a new drug or treatment in a small group; Phase IIA smaller clinical trial designed to establish whether a drug is effective. Phase II studies are conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the drug for a particular indication or indications in patients with the disease or condition under study and to determine the common short-term side effects and risks. If there is evidence that the drug is effective, a Phase III study is undertaken, with a larger number of participaants, to confirm this. expands the study to a larger group of people; Phase IIIA large clinical trial designed to establish whether a drug is effective and safe enough for widespread use. Phase III studies include expanded controlled and uncontrolled trials after preliminary evidence suggesting effectiveness of the drug has been obtained, and are intended to gather additional information to evaluate the overall benefit-risk relationship of the drug and provide and adequate basis for physician labeling. expands the study to an even larger group of people; and Phase IVPost-marketing studies to delineate additional information including the drug's risks, benefits, and optimal use. takes place after the drug or treatment has been licensed and marketed. , but as usual, this important conference produced a great deal more than a single story. read more »

HIV-related news in brief from the April 2006 edition of Positive Living. read more »

A report from the 3rd IAS Conference on HIV Pathogenesis and Treatment, held in Rio de Janiero in July. read more »

The annual Retrovirus Conference is a key event on the HIV scientific calendar, and regularly highlights the most exciting ‘bleeding edge’ developments from the world of HIV science. read more »