Table 1: ATN 2002 Index Topic Pages Aaron Diamond Research Center 384 Abbreviated Guide ... HIV 380 Access to care 387 Achmat, Zackie 387 ACT UP 385 ACTG 384 trial c
AIDS TREATMENT NEWS publishes a buyers club list each December. For a short overview and introduction to the meaning, history, and services of these organizations, see AIDS TREATMENT NEWS #309, December 18, 1998. We focus on buyers clubs specializing in HIV (we also included Rainbow Grocery in San Francisco, because of
Our 2002 year-end issue was delayed, so this issue was backdated December 27, 2002 (the last Friday of the year), although it actually went to the printer on January 23, 2003. We used the December date so the year-end 2002 index will be filed correctly with the other 2002-dated copies in libraries, consistent with prev
Search for a Cure will sponsor a free community forum on treatment news from the important 10th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections, on the last day of the conference, February 14, 1-3 p.m. at the Sheraton Boston hotel. Lunch will be provided. Advance registration is required; to register, call Sear
January 21, 2003: The first phase of voluntary civilian smallpox vaccinations -- for about 500,000 persons who will serve in first-response teams in case of a smallpox attack -- is expected to start in a few days; later, phase II will recommend voluntary vaccination for up to 10,000,000 healthcare workers and others. O
January 21, 2003: Advocates are working urgently in Congress and state legislatures to prevent decisions that could ultimately deny access to medical care to millions of low or middle income Americans with HIV or other illnesses. As this issue goes to press: * 140 AIDS organizations have sent a consensus letter to each
A new government Web site -- http://www.aidsinfo.nih.gov -- merges two previous services (AIDS Clinical Trials Information Service, and AIDS Treatment Information Service), plus other government-approved AIDS information. For those who prefer to call, the telephone help line hours are noon to 5 p.m. Monday through Frid
If you are going to the Retroviruses conference (10th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections, Feb. 10-14 in Boston), you must deal with housing through the conference, to prevent your registration from being cancelled. We are finding that not everyone knows this. Only two groups are allowed to not rent
The AIDS Drug Assistance Program is facing its worst budget shortfall ever. Many states are starting waiting lists, reducing eligibility, or reducing the list of drugs covered. Patients could even be taken off their medications if their state changes eligibility requirements to save money. Gay Men s Health Crisis, Care
On December 17 Gilead Sciences announced that it would make its antiretroviral (tenofovir disoproxil fumarate, brand name Viread ) available at cost to qualified organizations providing HIV treatment in all 53 nations in Africa, and 15 additional countries classified as least developed by the United
On December 20, international trade talks in Geneva, Switzerland failed to resolve the major remaining issue on access to generic versions of patented medicines in developing countries to meet public-health needs. All 143 other countries were ready to accept a compromise text negotiated on December 16. But the U.S. ins
On December 13 President Bush announced that the U.S. will begin a smallpox vaccination program. It will be mandatory for about 500,000 military personnel, with voluntary but recommended vaccination for over 400,000 civilian health-care workers most likely to encounter smallpox in case it is spread deliberately. A few
On or around November 12 the British Lung Foundation made news in England, the U.S., and probably around the world by releasing a report implying that marijuana smoke is more harmful than tobacco smoke in causing lung and other cancers and infections. The report, nine pages of text plus 90 references, is available at h
Despite a widespread and growing consensus that drug patents should not continue to block access to treatment in poor countries, this issue remains. Two recent examples: * In Sydney, Australia , 25 countries met to work out a compromise on drug exports to take to the 140 member countries of the World Trade Organization
ACT UP and several co-sponsors have called for a peaceful protest at the White House on November 26, less than a week before World AIDS Day, to demand Federal action against AIDS in the U.S. and worldwide. Demonstrators will meet at noon at McPherson Square, 15th & Eye Streets NW, and march to the White House a few
Patients and physicians should know that researchers working on at least a dozen projects funded by the U.S. National Institutes of Health need tissue from persons with HIV for medical research. This includes important studies of viral reservoirs, as well as research into genes that influence how HIV causes AIDS in som
In a new approach to HIV prevention, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation will fund a multi-national trial of the antiretroviral drug tenofovir , taken orally once daily by HIV negative persons at high risk, to see if it can prevent HIV infection. The study, by Family Health International, will take three years, and
The new Vaccine Research Center at the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases is starting the first human trial of its vaccine candidate, developed to target HIV clades (subtypes) A, B, and C. Together these subtypes are responsible for about 90% of the world s AIDS epidemic (clade B causes almost a
In an important study reported this month, in which almost 28,000 healthy U.S. women were followed for eight years, the level of C-reactive protein, a marker of inflammation, was a better predictor than LDL cholesterol of first heart attack or related disease(1). And there was almost no correlation between the two mark
The new Boehringer Ingelheim patient assistance program for nevirapine for U.S. residents may be an improvement over other programs, in that it streamlines the paperwork and administration. A patient applies once for a year -- by sending a one-page application plus proof of income.
On November 1 a panel of 12 leading experts on metabolic complications of HIV and antiretroviral treatment published guidelines for managing these complications, and a review of what is already known(1). The panel looked at glucose intolerance and diabetes, lipid abnormalities such as high triglycerides, body fat distr
On September 27 over 80 health experts and organizations released a letter warning against all rectal use of nonoxynol-9 (N-9) -- a spermicide mistakenly used to kill HIV, when actually it makes transmission worse. The letter came after a quiet campaign that persuaded most but not all manufacturers to remove the substa
Dr. Wan Yan Hai, the AIDS activist detained by Chinese security on August 24, (see AIDS TREATMENT NEWS #383, September 6, 2002) was unexpectedly released in Beijing on September 20. His release came after United Nations and the U.S. State Department officials negotiated behind the scenes, and ACT UP led an internationa
AIDS is the crisis of our generation, and we will be defined by our response to it. Years from now, we will have to answer to our own children: did we stand by as millions died, or did we take action? We have a chance to make a real difference in shaping the outcome of this pandemic. We hope you will join us in this e
The annual Retroviruses conference, one of the world s most important scientific meetings on HIV, will not take place until February 2003, but scholarship and other deadlines are approaching. For community members without an accepted scientific abstract, the scholarship or community press applications are the only way
On September 26 scientists at the Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center (ADARC) announced that they had identified a significant contributor to a long-sought antiviral factor, secreted by certain CD8 T-cells, that inhibits HIV replication.(1) This work does not change treatment now, but could lead to the development of a
On November 14 the Antiviral Drugs Advisory Committee will review the application by Hoffmann-La Roche for approval of peginterferon alfa-2a combined with ribavirin. The meeting will include time for public comment, and comments can also be submitted in writing. If you want to address the committee you need to notify t
ICAAC, the Inter-Science Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, was held this year in San Diego, September 27 - 30. This annual conference focuses mainly on the development of new antibiotics and antivirals. On October 11 HIVandHepatitis.com published a review of the HIV clinical trial presentations at IC
On October 11 Roche and Trimeris, Inc. announced that the FDA had granted priority review to FUZEON (TM) (generic name enfuvirtide, formerly known as T-20). This means that the FDA plans to review the application for approval in six months, and announce the results by March 16, 2003 (six months after the application fo
All the approved HIV treatments so far are antiretrovirals -- drugs that directly target some step in viral replication. In the future we may have another kind of treatment, immune- based therapy, which strengthen the immune system s ability to control HIV, instead of attacking the virus directly. A third approach, les
Jon Kaiser, M.D., who combines standard HIV antiretroviral treatment with nutrition, exercise, and other natural treatment approaches will be speaking in Philadelphia on Tuesday, Sept. 17, at Graduate Hospital Auditorium, 18th and Lombard St., 6-9 p.m. A light dinner will be served. For more information, see http://www
Dr. Wan Yanhai, China s foremost AIDS activist, disappeared in Beijing on August 24. According to Liang Yen Yen, one of the coordinators of Dr. Wan s Aizhi (AIDS) Action Project, he has been detained and is being examined by the Chinese Ministry of State Security. He is accused of exposing state secrets; namely the AID
On August 26, 2002, AIDS activists from 21 African countries announced the Pan-African HIV/AIDS Treatment Access Movement (PHATAM). They had met for three days in South Africa , during the World Summit on Sustainable Development. Twelve AIDS, health, and religious organizations convened the PHATAM organizing meeting. T
Howard A. Grossman, M.D., is a leading HIV physician who has practiced HIV medicine in New York City since 1987. He is also Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine at Columbia University and Associate Attending Physician at St. Luke s Roosevelt Hospital. With his associate and a physician assistant, his clinic works w
The XIV International AIDS Conference, July 7-12 in Barcelona, Spain , was the biggest AIDS conference ever, with more than 15,000 people and more than 10,000 research, program, and other reports presented. Some have wrongly concluded that little important medical or scientific information was included. But it can be h
The National AIDS Treatment Advocates Forum, sponsored by the National Minority AIDS Council (NMAC), brings together about 400 treatment advocates from the U.S. and other countries for skills building to help assure the continued success of the treatment advocacy movement. This year s NATAF meeting will be held in New
About 10,000 Americans eligible for AIDS treatment are now on waiting lists for the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP), because of lack of funds. As we go to press, the AIDS Treatment Activist Coalition is about to release an action alert on what you can do now, especially in August and September. It includes clear, a
In June we reported that nandrolone was no longer regularly available in the U.S.; generic versions had disappeared three years ago, and the more expensive brand name Deca Durabolin had just been withdrawn from the market by the manufacturer. In late July we learned that a generic version is now available through at le
ACTG 384 is a large clinical trial by the U.S. Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, which enrolled over 900 treatment-naive volunteers. Shortly before the Barcelona conference, one of the six different treatment regimens tested was found to be clearly better than the others. So volunteers will be told which re
The next-day reporting from the conference had to focus on individual meetings instead of broader perspectives. Still, some of these reports may be the best source available for particular information you need. You can use these links to read quickly through the dozens of titles, to find what is important for you. Note
On August 9 an excellent in-depth summary of what HIV medical professionals and well-informed patients most need to know from the XIV International AIDS Conference (July 7-12 in Barcelona, Spain ) was published on the Medscape Web site, http://hiv.medscape.com It consists of four articles, and a test that physicians, p
AIDS treatment activists submitted these suggestions during the writing of the story on the current ADAP funding crisis ( Thousands Face Loss of Treatment in ADAP Money Crisis, AIDS TREATMENT NEWS June 2002). 1. SIGN UP FOR THE ADAP WAITING LIST, don t just walk away. Make sure that you keep in touch with your case man
Some time next spring the first fusion inhibitor, T-20, is expected to be approved by the Food and Drug Administration. For some people with AIDS, this drug will be part of a salvage therapy that could keep them alive. T-20 is a complicated drug to manufacture and will have a very high price tag. Without financial help
About 90% of the AIDS epidemic today is in poor or developing countries, and these regions are expected to be a major focus of the XVI International AIDS Conference 2002 (July 7-12 in Barcelona, Spain ). But Spanish embassies in India , the Congo, and many other developing countries are denying scientist
In late May or early June treatment activists learned that the only version of nandrolone currently available in the U.S. (brand name Deca Durabolin) was being discontinued. Soon we started hearing from patients whose pharmacies told them they could not find the drug. Nandrolone is approved for anemia due to renal insu
The XIV International AIDS Conference will take place July 7-12 in Barcelona, Spain -- with important satellite meetings starting several days before. These meetings happen only once every two years; no breakthroughs are expected, but important research and medical developments will be presented. And AIDS workers from
On June 25, 2002 the World Health Organization published a 27- page report summarizing what is known about nonoxynol-9 (N-9) -- the failed microbicide that actually increases risk of HIV transmission. They concluded that N-9 should never be used for preventing HIV transmission, has no value in preventing other sexually
Philadelphia FIGHT s annual AIDS Education Month program is presenting more than 10 events in June. About half of them charge no fee; and most of the rest are breakfast programs for $15; one is a fundraiser and more expensive. Details are at http://www.fight.org/aem -- or call 215-985-4448 ext. 110, or email aem@fight.
[Note: As we went to press the SAN DIEGO UNION published an in-depth look at the Remune controversy. See Time Running Out for Salk-Backed AIDS Vaccine by Penni Crabtree, June 2, 2002, http://www.uniontrib.com/ (you can search for Remune in recent articles, and in archives).] Activist David Scondras of Search for a Cure
The 2002 ABBREVIATED GUIDE TO MEDICAL MANAGEMENT OF HIV INFECTION, by John G. Bartlett, M.D. of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, is a quick reference for medical professionals -- intended for bedside clinical management decisions. The parent text, Medical Management of HIV Infection, provides the scient
[The first of two articles on the crisis in public benefits for people with HIV/AIDS.] It is not commonly known that the Medicaid program (MediCal in California) is the single biggest source of publicly funded AIDS treatment in the United States -- bigger than Medicare and bigger than the Ryan White Care Act. Medicaid
Since May 10, pharmaceutical manufacturers and the FDA have been warning medical professionals and patients about wrongly labeled or counterfeit drugs. * Combivir : On May 10, GlaxoSmithKline announced that it had received four reports of bottles labeled as containing 60
AIDSWatch is the largest annual federal HIV/AIDS education and advocacy initiative in the nation. Hundreds of people living with HIV/AIDS, their friends and family, service providers and advocates come to Washington, DC for intensive training leading to direct discussion with Members of Congress and their staff. The g
A combination of unrelated events and changes in the last two years is increasingly threatening the ability of thousands of Americans with HIV to get medically necessary care. The national economic slowdown, a crisis in state budgets, the Federal focus on war, and the neglect of treatment-access activism, have combined
We received the following press release from the Marijuana Policy Project on March 29. On April 2, ACT UP New York wrote an open letter to Vermont Governor Dean in support of the bill to legalize marijuana for medical purposes, H. 645. A bill to legalize use of marijuana for medical purposes -- similar to laws already
The Bush Administration has proposed significant changes in the Clinton Administration s rules on medical privacy. The proposed rule is open for public comment for a short period of 30 days. The WASHINGTON POST summarized the changes as follows: The proposal would alter the requirement, put in place by the Clinton admi
Every day 8,000 people die of AIDS, thousands more of tuberculosis , and thousands more of malaria. Leading experts agree that all three could be effectively controlled around the world with a total investment of about $10 billion per year, and the political will to match. This is not much money compared to the global
An overview of the growing problem of bone disease -- especially avascular necrosis (also called osteonecrosis, or aseptic necrosis), which is requiring an increasing number of hip replacements in persons who have had AIDS and been on HAART for many years, was published in the April 2002 issue of POZ ( Hip to the Futur
A new class of cancer drugs -- topoisomerase inhibitors -- is now in use in the United States for treating certain cancers. But despite laboratory studies and other reason to believe that these drugs might also work as antiretrovirals, they have never been tested in people for treating HIV. An activist who investigated
A study in Africa found that viral load was apparently reduced by almost two logs during acute measles infection in children. After they recovered from measles, the HIV viral load came back.(1) Interpretation was complicated by the fact that no baseline viral loads were available for the children before they came down
Here are some of the experimental antiretroviral treatments (not yet approved for general use) that were discussed at the Retroviruses conference, February 24-28, 2002, in Seattle. We organized them by drug class. Non-Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors * TMC125 This is a very active antiretroviral of the NNRTI
AIDS TREATMENT NEWS compiled this list and checked the Web sites as we went to press in early March. Please let us know of other meetings that should be on this list. We can run updates if necessary. * 2002 National STD Prevention Conference, March 4-7, San Diego http://www.stdconference.org/ * The Presidential Advisor
The FDA sent the following email on February 4: The FDA approved on February 1, 2002, a new formulation of Sustiva ( efavirenz ), a non nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor for the treatment of HIV infection.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration emailed the following warning on March 1, 2002. The FDA also reported this information at the 9th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections on February 28 [abstract LB14]. [Comment: Patients should remember that this warning describes a rare condition associated with
The following sites have important information from the 9th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections, Seattle, February 24-28, 2002. And you may want to check back, as most of them will post additional reports in the future. Note: if one of the links given below does not work, it may be because the site
Lipoatrophy is abnormal fat loss, often seen especially in the face, arms, and legs. Sometimes fat inside the abdomen (a different kind of fat) will increase at the same time the fat underneath the skin is disappearing. It is believed that lipoatrophy is caused primarily by antiretrovirals -- although there are differe
The recent Retroviruses conference in Seattle reported more progress in AIDS research than perhaps any conference in the last few years. But the potential new drugs and research findings are still in early stages, and include some contradictory or confusing results. Experimental treatments may look good in early human
AIDS Treatment News - Issue Number 377, January 25, 2002
John S. James
Recently some pharmaceutical companies have imposed substantial, unexpected price increases for HIV drugs. These increases mean that more people will not get necessary treatment, since ADAP and other public program budgets have already been set, and these programs are already denying drugs through waiting lists because
AIDS Treatment News - Issue Number 377, January 25, 2002
John S. James
We asked Ronda Goldfein and Yolanda Lollis of the AIDS Law Project of Pennsylvania where activism could be most useful for their clients, both at the Federal and at state and local levels. They suggested the following. We added some comments in parentheses: * Social Security disability determination for HIV. Today the
AIDS Treatment News - Issue Number 377, January 25, 2002
John S. James
Everyone knows that patients urgently need new kinds of treatments (as well as better drugs in existing classes, mainly antiretrovirals). But it has always been hard to get new ideas developed. Almost by definition a new idea has not made money before, so the money people are not interested. Developing new drugs and ne
AIDS Treatment News - Issue Number 377, January 25, 2002
John S. James
The recently approved antiretroviral tenofovir may be particularly important, because it appears to have fewer side effects than other antiretrovirals, and also less problem with resistance. It might be ideal for prevention of maternal transmission of HIV -- and possibly could be reformulated as an effective microbicid
AIDS Treatment News - Issue Number 377, January 25, 2002
John S. James
New interactions involving antiretrovirals and other drugs often used by persons with HIV -- or interactions with nutritional supplements, like garlic or St. John s wort -- keep being discovered; clearly many others are unknown. Usually one drug (or supplement) either raises or lowers the blood level of another drug --
AIDS Treatment News - Issue Number 377, January 25, 2002
John S. James
As we enter 2002 many lives are being lost in the U.S. and around the world because opportunities to save them are being neglected or squandered, often due to lack of followup. The system does not work by itself. Problems fester indefinitely unless advocates push for attention and solutions. New activism is now emergin
This information is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between you and your doctor.