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 Study
Monday, 18 July, 2011 (Rome, Italy) - A special press conference at the 6th IAS Conference
on HIV Pathogenesis, Treatment and Prevention (IAS 2011) will today feature a panel consisting of researchers from the CDC TDF2 study,
the Partners PrEP Study and the HPTN 052 study. They will be joined by Anthony Fauci, Director of the National Institute of Allergy
and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), Gottfried Hirnschall, Director of the HIV Department of the World Health Organization (WHO)
and Elly Katabira, IAS 2011 International Chair and President of the International AIDS Society (IAS). The IAS 2011
onference opened yesterday, Sunday 17 July and runs until Wednesday 20 July and is being attended by over 5000
researchers, clinicians and community leaders.
In light of announcements this past week about new data on PrEP effectiveness, both the HPTN 052 abstract
session (16.30, SR1) and press conference have been expanded to include presentations on the Partners PrEP Study and the CDC's
TDF2 study, both of which were released on 13 July in the US. The presentation on the CDC study was originally scheduled for
a late breaker session at IAS 2011 on Wednesday 20 July.
"Treatment is prevention and these three studies provide the proof," said Katabira.
"The XI International AIDS Conference in Vancouver in 1996 is remembered as the conference that heralded the arrival of combination
antiretroviral treatment. The IAS 2011 Conference will be remembered as the beginning of the treatment as prevention revolution."
"These studies mark a turning point in HIV science and in HIV prevention," said Stefano Vella, IAS 2011 Local Co-Chair
and Research Director at the Istituto Superiore di Sanità (ISS). "The urgent
challenge now is to implement treatment as prevention in the developing world."
Press conference line up:
Chair: Stefano Vella: IAS 2011 Local Co-Chair and Research Director at
the Istituto Superiore di Sanità (ISS)
Myron Cohen: HPTN 052 Protocol Chair and Associate Vice Chancellor for Global Health and Director of
the Institute of Global Health and Infectious Diseases at the University of North Carolina
About the HPTN 052 study:
The HIV Prevention Trials Network (HPTN) 052 study found that men and women, who were already infected with HIV, had
a reduced risk of transmitting the virus to their uninfected sexual partners by 96% through early initiation of combination
antiretroviral therapy (cART). HPTN 052 also found that early initiation of cART benefits the HIV-infected individual.
HPTN 052 was designed to evaluate whether early versus delayed use of cART by HIV-infected individuals would reduce
transmission of HIV to their uninfected partners and benefit the HIV-infected individuals as well. During the course of the study,
39 participants who had been HIV-uninfected at the start of the study became infected with HIV. Of those, 29 were linked
transmissions, where the virus from the originally-infected partner was confirmed by genetic analysis to be the source
of infection in the newly infected sexual partner. Only one of the 29 infections occurred in the early cART arm.
Based on the latest analyses, this one transmission most likely occurred close to the time the couple enrolled
in the study and before HIV viral replication could have been suppressed by cART in the infected participant.
The new analyses also provide more insight as to how early initiation of cART benefits the HIV-infected person.
Individuals who were put on early cART maintained higher absolute CD4 counts than those in the delayed arm, who received
treatment when their CD4 counts fell below 250 cells/mm³ or an AIDS-related event occurred. Early cART was also
associated with a 41% reduction in HIV-related illnesses or death, a direct benefit for the HIV-infected partner.
The reliable suppression of HIV among HIV-infected people in the early treatment arm suggests potential
impact on adherence when the infected individual is informed that their cART may also benefit their partner.
Michael C.Thigpen: Principal study investigator and epidemiologist at the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC), USA
About the TDF2 study:
The CDC TDF2 study was a randomized, placebo-controlled trial examining the safety and efficacy of a once-daily tablet
containing tenofovir disoproxil fumarate and emtricitabine (TDF/FTC, known by the brand name Truvada) for reducing the risk of
HIV acquisition among heterosexual men and women at two sites in Botswana. In addition to study medication, all participants
received a comprehensive package of HIV prevention services. The study provides strong evidence that a daily oral dose of
antiretroviral drugs used to treat HIV infection can reduce HIV acquisition among uninfected individuals exposed to the
virus through heterosexual sex. The study, conducted in partnership with the Botswana Ministry of Health, found
TDF/FTC reduced the risk of acquiring HIV infection by roughly 63 percent overall in the study population
(95% CI, 21.5 to 83.4; p= 0.0133) ,and by 78 percent among trial participants believed to be taking
study medications (95% CI 41.2 to 93.6, p=0.0053). Adherence (as measured by pill count) was high,
both among those receiving TDF/FTC and those receiving placebo (84.1 percent and 83.7 percent,
respectively). Reported sexual risk behavior was similar between the two study arms.
Consistent with other PrEP studies, preliminary analyses did not identify any
significant safety concerns associated with daily use of TDF/FTC.
Jared Baeten: Co-leader of the Partners PrEP Study and epidemiologist at the University of Washington,
USA
About the Partners PrEP Study:
This is a phase III, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of daily oral tenofovir and emtricitabine/tenofovir
for the prevention of HIV-1 acquisition among HIV-1 seronegative partners in heterosexual HIV-1 serodiscordant partnerships. The study
is funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The University of Washington coordinated the trial, in collaboration with
investigators at nine sites in Kenya and Uganda. The study enrolled 4758 HIV-1 serodiscordant couples; HIV-1 uninfected
partners were randomly assigned in equal numbers to one of three study groups: one group received tenofovir, one
emtricitabine/tenofovir, and one matching placebo. All study participants received a comprehensive package of
HIV-1 prevention services. On 10 July 2011, the Partners PrEP Study independent Data and Safety
Monitoring Board (DSMB) recommended, after review of the study data, that the study results
be publically reported and the placebo arm be discontinued, because of definitive
demonstration of HIV-1 protection from pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in the
study population. Tenofovir reduced HIV-1 risk by 62% (95% CI 34 to 78, p=0.0003),
emtricitabine/tenofovir by 73% (95% CI 49 to 85, p<0.0001). Efficacy for tenofovir and
emtricitabine/tenofovir were not statistically different. 62% of HIV negative participants were
male, 38% were female: both PrEP medications reduced HIV-1 risk in men and women. Adherence to the
daily PrEP medication was very high - more than 97% of dispensed doses of the study medications were taken.
More than 95% of participants were retained in study follow-up. Safety parameters were comparable across the three study groups.
Anthony Fauci: Director, NIAID , USA
Fauci will remark on the implications for prevention research. He will talk about the collective importance of these
studies in finding new HIV prevention methods and the optimism that these combinations when viewed in total will help to end the
HIV/AIDS epidemic.
Gottfried Hirnschall:
Head of the HIV Department at the WHO, Switzerland
Over the past year, WHO has been developing recommendations for couples HIV testing and counseling. More than half
of all people living with HIV do not know their infection status, and therefore, may transmit HIV unknowingly. By partners
testing together and mutually disclosing their test results, couples can learn about their options for HIV prevention and treatment.
The findings of the three cited studies above will be reflected in WHO guidelines for couples HIV testing and
counseling and also to develop broader guidance on the strategic use of antiretrovirals for treatment and prevention of HIV.
Elly Katabira: International Chair IAS 2011 and IAS President
Katabira will talk about the implications of the three cited studies for HIV professionals
ENDS
Online Coverage of IAS 2011 at www.ias2011.org
The online Programme-at-a-Glance, available through the website, includes links to abstracts, as well as session
slides with audio and speeches (all abstract findings are embargoed until date and time of delivery at the conference).
Additional online programming is provided by IAS 2011’s two official online partners: Clinical Care Options
and NAM. Reporters and others can also follow key developments on the IAS 2011 blog at http://blog.ias2011.org or
on Twitter at www.twitter.com/ias2011.
About the IAS 2011 Organizers
IAS: The International AIDS Society (IAS) is the world's leading independent
association of HIV professionals, with over 16,000 members from more than 196 countries working at all levels of the global
response to AIDS. Our members include researchers from all disciplines, clinicians, public health and community
practitioners on the frontlines of the epidemic, as well as policy and programme planners. The IAS is the
custodian of the biennial International AIDS Conference and lead organizer of the IAS Conference on
HIV Pathogenesis, Treatment and Prevention, which is currently being held in Rome, Italy.
www.iasociety.org | www.facebook.com/iasociety | Follow us on Twitter @iasociety
ISS: The IIstituto Superiore di Sanità (ISS) is
the leading technical and scientific body of the Italian National Health Service. Its activities include research, clinical trials,
and control and training in public health. It also serves as a major national clearing-house for technical and scientific
information on public health issues. Among other things, the Institute conducts scientific research in a wide variety of
fields, from cutting-edge molecular and genetic research, to population-based studies of risk factors for disease and
disability, to Global Health research.
Onsite Media Centre Landline No. +39 0680241 756*
*For international calls to Italy, please note that the preliminary 0 in the area codes of land lines
must be included
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International media:
Lindsey Rodger
Michael Kessler |
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Italian media:
Andrea Tomasini |
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"Reproduced with permission - International AIDS Society"
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