Treatment: Last News

This week our friends at +Talk (the weekly chat show focusing on people living with and affected by HIV) features activist, health advocate, and social justice warrior, Diana Feliz Oliva.Oliva, a transgender woman herself, has been a beacon for social change and advocate for marginalized communities for over 25 years now. In addition to her decades of dedication to her community (she holds a Master’s Degree in social work from Columbia University), she also has reached executive levels at Gilead Sciences, one of the leading makers of HIV medications.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the drug Sunlenca (lenacapavir), produced by Gilead Sciences, in combination with other antiretrovirals for the treatment of HIV-1 infection in heavily treatment-experienced (HTE) adults with multi-drug resistant (MDR) HIV-1 infection.Sunlenca offers a new, twice-yearly treatment option for HIV-positive adults that is not adequately controlled by their current regimen.“Today’s approval ushers in a new class of antiretroviral drugs that may help patients with HIV who have run out of treatment options,” Debra Birnkrant, M.D., said in a press release from the FDA.

(CNN) -- The US Department of Health and Human Services said Friday that it does not plan to renew the public health emergency declaration for mpox."Over the next 60 days we will focus on supporting jurisdictions and the Department to ensure the expiration of the PHE will not hinder response efforts," the agency said in a statement. "The expiration of the PHE will signal we are leaving the emergency phase of the outbreak and are transitioning to the ongoing and urgent work of vaccinating those at-risk and providing treatments and other support to those affected so that we can continue the progress to a durable end of mpox transmission."To help fight potential discrimination and stigma associated with the virus' original name, monkeypox, the World Health Organization announced Monday that "mpox" is the preferred term for the virus and illness.

Walmart continues to evolve in how it treats marginalized employees and customers — the nation's largest retailer recently announced a partnership with the Elton John AIDS Foundation to expand awareness on HIV treatment and prevention options.Last year, Walmart released their first three Specialty Pharmacies of the Community (SPOCs), which feature “HIV-trained pharmacists, enhanced care coordination, healthy lifestyle recommendations and emotional support services from our Community Health Workers,” according to the company. To double down on these efforts, the company is also launching four new HIV-focused SPOCs that will feature pharmacy professionals and staff trained with the guidance of the Elton John AIDS Foundation.

Timed to launch today, on World AIDS Day, ABC journalist and HIV advocate Karl Schmid literally bares all — his heart, soul, and clothing — in a new PSA. The video was created to launch +Life's "HIVe Pledge" initiative, a worldwide marketing campaign, movement, and call to action encouraging all people, regardless of identity, to commit to getting regularly tested and provide resources to do so. The HIVe Pledge consists of three main components: testing, treatment, and medical equity. Getting tested and knowing your status for HIV, positive or negative, ensures you follow the right steps for a clear path to treatment or prevention.

A decade and a half of research by the Pleasure Project has proven that social campaigns aiming to promote safer sex practices and HIV prevention are much more effective when they focus on sexual pleasure rather than “danger and disease,” according to a recent article by The New York Times.In partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO), the small nongovernmental organization called the Pleasure Project reviewed the results of safer-sex trials and experiments over the past 15 years. After assessing more than 7,000 safe sex campaigns on their treatment of pleasure, Pleasure Project recently published the peer-reviewed findings in the journal PLOS One.“Sexual health education and services have traditionally promoted safer sex practices by focusing on risk reduction and preventing disease, without acknowledging how safer sex can also promote intimacy, pleasure, consent and well-being,” said Lianne Gonsalves, co-author of the report and a sexual health researcher epidemiologist at WHO.

Florida’s Orange County has ranked as one of the state’s highest HIV rates for new infections over the last five years. Last year, however, the Florida Department of Health (FDOH) reported a 5 percent decrease of diagnoses.The state overall has a goal to reduce HIV cases down to 75 percent by 2025 and 90 percent by 2030 using various treatment and education plans.FDOH’s Central Florida HIV program manager, Kara Williams, told WMFE, “I know it’s a really ambitious goal.

University of Oxford researchers completed a clinical trial that demonstrated the T-cell therapeutic HIV vaccine AELIX-002 had better control of the virus when antiretroviral therapy (ART) was temporarily halted.Mirage News reported that the study, whose full results were published in Nature Medicine, showed two-fifths of participants with no genetic background of spontaneous HIV control were able to stay off ART for the six months of supervised pause.“This result provides further encouragement that active immunization against HIV may be possible, slowing HIV replication, providing a window of treatment holidays for people living with HIV and eventually leading to HIV cure,” said Tomáš Hanke, Professor of Vaccine Immunology at the Jenner Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine.Hanke also leads an HIV Vaccine Program at the Jenner Institute aimed at developing a vaccine strategy for the induction of protective T-cells that focus on the vulnerable and conserved regions of HIV. This encompasses trials in the U.K., across Europe, the US and Africa. AELIX Therapeutics developed the therapeutic vaccine, which combines with two other vaccines constructed at Oxford.

Gilead Sciences discovered two “kingpins” thought to mastermind the ongoing counterfeit HIV medication scheme.The pharmaceutical company scored a big win in their fight to stop the distribution of counterfeit bottles of HIV drugs produced under their name. On September 28, U.S.

Global healthcare company Merck recently announced that they will begin a Phase 3 clinical study on the use of the drug islatravir for the treatment of people infected with HIV-1.The new studies will evaluate a combination of doravirine 100 mg and a lower dose of islatravir, designed for use as a daily pill. One study will focus on previously untreated patients with HIV-1.

When a 40-year-old German man recently complained of a red spot on his nose, a family doctor initially diagnosed him with sunburn. But when the red dot turned black and began to rot, the man was rushed to the University Hospital in Bonn, where medical staff gave multiple frightening diagnoses.He developed lesions around his mouth and body due to a monkeypox, or MPV, infection confirmed by PCR testing.Several additional tests, including those for sexually transmitted infections, revealed that the man had both advanced HIV and severe syphilis.Due to the confluence of infections, his immune system had been significantly weakened, allowing necrosis or tissue death to occur opportunistically.The German's severe MPV case was documented in the medical journal Infection. "The patient had never been tested for sexually transmitted diseases (STI) before," the report states.The man received TPOXX for seven days, antiretroviral therapy for HIV, and antibiotics for syphilis.The skin lesions have dried out, and some swelling in the nose has subsided, doctors observed.As of yet, most MPV infections have been mild, and people living with controlled HIV do not seem to be at risk of severe illness.

(CNN) — Top Biden administration officials announced new steps Thursday to accelerate the U.S. response to the spread of monkeypox amid high demand for vaccines and treatments.That includes boosting supply with an additional 1.8 million doses of the Jynneos monkeypox vaccine, accelerating the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' vaccine distribution timeline.

How can a person lower their risk during sex?Talk to your partner about any recent illness and be aware of new or unexplained rash on your body or your partner’s body, including the genitals and anus. If you or your partner have recently been sick, currently feel sick, or have a new or an unexplained rash, do not have sex and see a healthcare provider.If you or a partner has monkeypox, the best way to protect yourself and others is to avoid sex of any kind (oral, anal, vaginal) and do not kiss or touch each other’s bodies while you are sick, especially any rash.

sexy lives! Speaking of sexy, we chat with cover star Danny Roberts of The Real World Homecoming: New Orleans on why he decided to return to reality TV after 20 years.

National HIV Testing Day (NHTD) in 1995 — to encourage everyone, especially those most at risk, to get tested and know their status. As the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) states, HIV testing is key to ending the epidemic.

Oliver Sim, vocalist and bass player for The xx, recently revealed that he’s been living with HIV since he was 17 years old.In a recent Instagram post, Sim explained the meaning and content surrounding his brand-new solo song, “Hideous.”“I’ve been living with HIV since I was 17 and it’s played with how I’ve felt towards myself, and how I’ve assumed others have felt towards me, from that age and into my adult life. So, quite impulsively, I wrote about it on a song called ‘Hideous,’” he wrote.Sim continued:“Since writing ‘Hideous,’ I’ve spent the last two years having conversations, which was difficult and uncomfortable to start with, but has allowed me to feel a lot freer and has only strengthened my relationship with myself and with the people in my life.” Despite still being an active part of The xx, Sim has also been releasing music in 2022 as a solo artist.

Healio reported the EPIC-NSW study also found older men and those who used methamphetamine were more likely to report Hepatitis-C than others in the study.“In implementing PrEP rollout, there was uncertainty about the impact that this would have on hepatitis C virus transmission in the community of gay and bisexual men in New South Wales,” said Janaki Amin, PhD, MPH, an epidemiologist and professor of public health at Macquarie University in Sydney.Amin explained researchers were concerned the use of PrEP might change certain “risk behaviors associated with an increased risk of HCV,” as seen in other countries where PrEP is used, but their fears proved unfounded.According to the report, just 20 participants in the study were diagnosed as acquiring Hepatitis-C during the study for a rate of 0.2 per 100. And those participating in the study who did acquire Hepatitis-C were significantly older (41 years versus 34 on average) and far more likely to use methamphetamine.“PrEP rollout did not result in high levels of HCV incidence in our population,” Amin said.

undetectable equals untransmittable. The campaign references people living with HIV who take daily meds and who have an undetectable level of the virus. They are not infectious.

issued a health warning: get vaccinated. And since the outbreak is primarily affecting sexually active gay and bi men in the area, they are especially encouraging this population to do so.Meningococcal disease is caused by a bacteria called Neisseria meningitidis and is preventable and treatable, says the CDC, however, it can quickly become deadly — so prevention and early detection and treatment are key.

Mother Jones, Gaetz wrote in a newsletter to supporters that people with Type 2 diabetes should focus on “losing weight, eating healthy, and being active” to reduce the demand for insulin, which increases the price of the product.“Arbitrary price controls are no substitute for individual weight control,” Gaetz wrote in the newsletter obtained by Mother Jones. “Since 2000, the number of diabetes cases in the U.S.

may be the next step to curing HIV: literally cutting the virus from an individual’s DNA where it has incorporated itself into the genome. This “excision” is accomplished through the use of lipid nanoparticle-delivered CRISPR-Cas9.

a bill went through last week that allocates funding for HIV testing, prevention, treatment, and research programs for areas in the U.S. most impacted by the virus.

all of us to embrace women of all experiences at the forefront of change.This National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day’s theme is “YOU. ME.

HOW SELF CARE CAN HELP YOUWhen we're physically and emotionally exhausted, we're less equipped to handle the challenges that life throws at us. Or, to put it another way, when we are physically and emotionally at our best, we are more robust and capable of handling life's stress. A massage, a hot bath, or some other type of pampering rejuvenates you on the inside and out.

There have been several inherent problems with the oral versions of PrEP:So, it is obvious why an alternative to PrEP pills has been needed, and Cabotegravir comes with many advantages:As with all new FDA-approved drugs, approval by insurance companies will be the biggest initial barrier that will need to be overcome, but I am hoping that the superiority of Apretude will be its biggest advantage, i.e., "selling point", while seeking prior authorizations with prescription plans.Unfortunately, our work is cut out for us during this COVID pandemic, which has thwarted previously comprehensive HIV testing efforts, resulting in more falling out of care/becoming lost-to-follow-up and has disrupted the supply chain of HIV medications. If EVERYONE with HIV is tested and diagnosed, EVERYONE can have access to HIV therapy that 100 percent prevents HIV transmission to uninfected individuals.

Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI). One of the biggest announcements to come from this year’s conference, CROI 2022, is that a woman being called “the New York patient” has been essentially cured of HIV.

published earlier this week in the journal, Science.Though the newly identified “VB variant” is easier to transmit and does indeed attack the immune system at a faster rate than other strains, researchers believe that the variant has actually been around since the 1990 but primariliy localized to the Netherlands region. In addition, despite the strain’s aggressive nature, it is still easily controlled by current HIV medications.The strain was discovered while researchers were looking at data and blood samples from people living with HIV in Europe and Uganda who are participating in a study called the BEEHIVE project.

A study conducted in the USA has revealed the many benefits of providing treatment to Trans teens, the positive impacts of which extend into adulthood. “Gender-affirming hormone treatment with estrogen or testosterone can help bring a Transgender person’s physical characteristics in line with their gender identity,” reads a statement from the Stanford University School of […]

The Switch – an all-new video series coming to Plus in 2022, is all about encouraging positive lifestyle changes toward achieving long-term goals including health and HIV treatment.In this series, Plus will host four individuals living with HIV from varying backgrounds, with a focus on southern states where HIV is disproportionately prevalent, to a location or studio-based shoot, at which they will talk candidly about positive changes they have made in their daily lives – ranging from starting a fitness plan to eating healthier – including their approach to HIV treatment.

announced today.Apretude, from GlaxoSmithKline, will be available for anyone considered at-risk for HIV and weighs at least 77 pounds. The injection is administered as two shots given one month apart, and then an injection every two months after that.

according to the Los Angeles Times. In fact, De Oliveira points to this population of people as a potential "factory" for variants, and describes this group as largely young and likely unvaccinated against COVID. South Africa has one of the highest rates of HIV in the world, with about 2.2 million individuals with HIV that is undetected, untreated, or poorly controlled through irregular drug adherence. There is no confirmation yet that a person living with HIV — whether they knew they had HIV or not — is the cause of Omicron.

The “excise” part of the new approach uses recent advances in genome editing. By employing CRISPR/Cas9 genome-editing technology, researchers could delete the remnant HIV hiding in the DNA of immune cells.

A young man nails a work presentation, is congratulated by his coworkers, swings by a bakery, and then attends a party with his friends and family members. The scenario that plays out in a recent ad for the HIV medication Dovato is much like a typical day for Luciano Reberte, who stars in the Spanish-language commercial — the first of its kind for the drug’s maker, ViiV Healthcare.Conceived and produced fully in Spanish, the commercial began airing this summer on the Univision and Telemundo networks.

Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program.HHS will disburse $2.21 billion to cities, counties, states, and local community-based organizations in 2021; the money will fund treatment and services for hundreds of thousands of people. The 30-year-old Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program pays for HIV services for low-income Americans — or about half of all people diagnosed with HIV in the nation. “For more than three decades, HHS has driven federal efforts to end the HIV epidemic in our country and improve health outcomes for people with HIV," HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra said in a statement.

new dataset that specifically monitors HIV among individuals 50 and older. "Fewer than one in five new HIV diagnoses in 2019 were among people over the age of 50," according to the dataset. "After peaking in 2012, the number of new HIV diagnoses among people over the age of 50 has gradually declined, reaching an all-time low of 93 new diagnoses in 2019."AIDS Foundation Chicago also revealed a drop in late HIV diagnoses, "a measure that represents missed opportunities to diagnose and treat HIV" among those 50 and older.

Plus’s new video series, “The Talk,” we demystify the early conversations with doctors or nurses that follow an HIV diagnosis. This installment of the series focuses on sensitive subjects that can give the newly diagnosed anxiety and prompt hesitation.

university press release.“We will continue to pursue our central unifying hypothesis that reversing HIV latency will ultimately lead to eradication of persistent HIV infection,” Margolis said. “We will also pursue interventions to prevent rebound of viremia after interruption of antiretroviral therapy (ART), and we will leverage a broad portfolio of tools from both academic and industry partners, and apply new discoveries, demonstrating proof-of-concept for clinical initiatives.”CARE has already been involved in what could be significant advancements in finding a cure for HIV.

may begin human trials this week for two mRNA-based HIV vaccines, according to the National Institutes of Health’s clinical trial registry. The study, in the Phase I stage, would measure the safety of the vaccine and collect information on whether the potential vaccine has an impact on HIV.The research would have to go to Phases II and III stages to collect the data on whether the vaccine is effective or not.

released a statement on Friday that those with moderately to severely compromised immune systems should receive the third dose after the initial two doses.“Emerging data suggest some people with moderately to severely compromised immune systems do not always build the same level of immunity compared to people who are not immunocompromised.

For Plus's new video series, "The Talk," we demystify the early conversations with doctors or nurses that follow an HIV diagnosis. People talking to health professionals in this situation are often frightened, anxious, and uncertain of what they can or should ask their medical professional about their status and treatment regimen.

lenacapavir, the biopharmaceutical company’s drug that may help people living with multi-drug resistant HIV.Lenacapavir is an injection for patients to take every six months. Researchers found that after Week 26, lenacapavir, taken with antiretrovirals, suppressed HIV in those that had not been previously responding to such treatment, according to a press release.The results were presented at the 11th International AIDS Society Conference on HIV Science.“Despite the advances in treating HIV infection, there remains an unmet need for treatment options for people who struggle with multi-drug resistance.

PharmaTimes.The trial, part of the European AIDS Vaccine Initiative, will feature 13 people between the ages of 18 and 65 who are not living with HIV and who researchers consider not at high risk of transmission.Participants will receive a dose of the vaccine — known as HIVconsvX, according to PharmaTimes — and then a booster dose four weeks after.The HIVconsvX vaccine is a mosaic vaccine and is designed to target the weakest areas of HIV in the body.A mosaic vaccine is one that combines parts of a variety of HIV strains that are put in one shot to begin an immune response, according to Johnson & Johnson.“An effective HIV vaccine has been elusive for 40 years,” Tomáš Hanke, the trial’s lead researcher and a professor of vaccine immunology

Gilead Sciences submitted a new drug application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Monday.

Editor's Note: This info was culled from the National Institute's of Health drug database, the FDA, and individual pharmaceutical companies. Unless otherwise noted, all dosages are traditional adult dose.AtriplaGeneric name: efavirenz, emtricitabine, and tenofovir disoproxil fumurateClass of drug: single-table regimenMaker: Gilead SciencesWho is it for? For adults and children 12 years and older weighing at least 40 kg as an initial regimen.

Enochian BioSciences, Inc. announced on Monday that the Food and Drug Administration accepted a pre-investigational new drug request for a potential treatment for HIV.Pre-investigational new drug requests are very early stage communications between the Office of Infectious Diseases and creators of new treatments.

The New York Times reports.A final study that could lead to MDMA's legalization as treatment is currently underway; approval could happen as soon as 2023.Researchers and doctors stress that MDMA alone does not aid PTSD sufferers, but must be paired with effective therapy that allows those with the condition to process painful memories and move on from them. Participants in the study who received MDMA reported less nightmares, panic attacks, and general social anxiety.MDMA was first created by Merck pharmacists in 1912, but mostly neglected by science until the 1970s, when a psychedelic proponent, Alexander Shulgin, synthesized it and tried it himself.

according to an Avita news release.Avita has been a longtime supporter of Section 340B programs — run under a provision of the Public Health Service Act that requires pharmaceutical manufacturers participating in Medicaid to sell outpatient drugs at discounted prices to health care organizations that care for uninsured and low-income patients.