Via AIDSMap, by Michael Carter. Approximately 50% of gay men said they were likely to use pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), but few reported that it would lead to a change in their risk behaviour, according to data presented to the International AIDS Society conference in Rome. Nevertheless, the investigators were concerned that even minor increases in rates of Read More >>

There wasn’t a ton of rectal microbicide coverage at the recent IAS in Rome, but here is some content from the conference on this topic. Acceptability of potential rectal microbicide delivery mechanisms for HIV preventionAbstractSlides/Audio Acceptability of microbicides and other new prevention technologies among MSM in Greater Buenos Aires, ArgentinaPoster Mobilizing MSM community in Nigeria to support Read More >>

Via Spoonful of Medicine.  Last week’s encouraging results from two trials showing that prophylactic use of AIDS drugs in HIV-negative people can help prevent infection has underscored the value of studying new preventative treatments, particularly in high-risk groups. And one of the highest risk groups remains men who have sex with men — a term used to Read More >>

Via AFP, by Richard Ingham. “Science is running much faster now than what we can implement and what we can pay for.” The four-day Rome conference, ending Wednesday, heard the outcome of several landmark trials. The biggest found that giving early drug therapy to people with HIV reduced the risk of infecting others by a massive 96 Read More >>

Via AIDSMap, by Gus Cairns. Two consecutive sessions at the sixth International AIDS Society conference in Rome yesterday were devoted, now we have convincing scientific data on the benefits of treatment as prevention and PrEP, to putting these new prevention methods into practice. “We have moved from ‘What if?’ to ‘What now?’” was the comment of Mitchell Read More >>

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE – DAY 4 16.30 (CET), WEDNESDAY JULY 20 Late Breaker extracts – newsmakers First global study of real-world circumcision rollout conducted over three-year period in South Africa amongst 110,000 adults shows a marked reduction (>60%) of HIV acquisition among circumcised adult men . Elvitegravir once-daily is non inferior to raltegravir twice-daily in treatment experienced Read More >>

A report released yesterday by HIV Vaccines and Microbicides Resource Tracking Working Group at the IAS conference in Rome “found that overall investment in HIV prevention R&D had actually increased, with the modest exception of a one percent decline in vaccine R&D. The report documented a total US$1.19 billion investment in research and development (R&D) for four key HIV prevention Read More >>

From the Guardian, by Sarah Boseley. There appears to be real excitement at the International Aids Society conference in Rome (sadly I’m not there in person, but that is the feedback). There is still no vaccine on the horizon – once the biggest hope – but the news from recent studies that taking antiretroviral drugs protects people Read More >>

Today is Day 3 of the exciting conference happening in Rome, and IRMA has a lot of interesting information to report. Here is the press release for Day 3, and below it are links to important and fascinating presentations from and articles about the conference. Via IAS. OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE – DAY 3                                                          EMBARGOED UNTIL Read More >>

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE – DAY 2 16.30 (CET), MONDAY JULY 18 Antiretroviral Treatment is HIV Prevention: The proof is here Leading researchers and international experts to discuss the policy and prevention implications of three groundbreaking trial results: the HPTN O52 study, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention TDF2 study and the University of Washington Partners PrEP Read More >>