And looks forward to further studies to see if findings can be replicated.

GENEVA, 4 March 2013—The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and UNICEF welcome a new case study, which found a baby treated with antiretroviral drugs in the first 30 hours of life and who continued on HIV treatment for 18 months appeared to be functionally cured.

The findings were presented today at the Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI) in Atlanta, Georgia in the United States of America.

According to researchers the mother who was living with HIV at the time of birth had not received antiretroviral (ARV) medication or prenatal care. Researchers say that the child was born prematurely in July 2010 in the state of Mississippi. Due to the high risk of exposure to HIV, the researchers say the baby was started on a triple therapy regimen of antiretroviral drug 30 hours after birth and before proof of infection could be confirmed. The newborn’s HIV-positive status was subsequently confirmed through a highly sensitive polymerase chain reaction testing which was conducted on several occasions.

The case study stated that the baby was discharged from the hospital after one week and continued ARV treatment until 18 months of age, when for reasons that are unclear the treatment was discontinued. However, when the child was seen by medical professionals about a half a year later, blood samples revealed undetectable HIV levels and no HIV-specific antibodies.

If the findings are confirmed this would be the first well-documented case of an HIV-positive child who appears to have no detectable levels of the virus despite stopping HIV treatment.

“This news gives us great hope that a cure for HIV in children is possible and could bring us one step closer to an AIDS free generation,” said UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé. “This also underscores the need for research and innovation especially in the area of early diagnostics.”

In 2011, UNAIDS and its partners launched a Global plan for the elimination of new HIV infections among children by 2015 and keeping their mothers alive. Significant progress has been made and continued support and research is needed.

“While we wait for these results to be confirmed with further research, it is potentially great news,” said UNICEF Executive Director, Anthony Lake. “This case also demonstrates what we already know—it is vital to test newborn babies at risk as soon as possible.”

According to data from the World Health Organization and UNICEF only 28% of HIV-exposed babies were tested for HIV within six weeks of birth in 2010. Obstacles to early diagnosis and treatment include the high cost of diagnostics and difficulty of getting timely results and limited access to services and medicines. There were 330 000 children newly infected with HIV in 2011. At the end of 2011, 28% of children under the age of 15 living with HIV were on HIV treatment, compared to 54% of eligible adults.

Now two and a half year’s old, the toddler continues to thrive without antiretroviral therapy and has no identifiable levels of HIV. However, UNAIDS cautions that more studies need to be conducted to understand the outcomes and whether the current findings can be replicated.

UNAIDS Executive Director, Michel Sidibé speaking at the 22nd session of the UN Human Rights Council on 28 February. Credit: UNAIDS

In a high-level address to the 22^nd session of the UN Human Rights Council on 28 February, UNAIDS Executive Director, Michel Sidibé, stressed the crucial importance of viewing the AIDS epidemic through a human rights prism.  The AIDS response, he said, is inextricably linked with the human rights agenda. If the world is to get to zero new infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS-related deaths then ensuring rights, social justice, equity and gender equality is vital. 

Mr Sidibé stressed that the AIDS response has paved the way for transformative progress across a broad range of rights, providing the engine for achieving the development goals. He noted that “critical lessons learned from the response to AIDS can help to ensure that the post-2015 development agenda puts human rights at its very center.” These lessons include promoting inclusion and participation; providing resources and political space for civil society to drive social change from within; and ensuring attention to the most marginalized.

Singling out the way the challenge to the epidemic has been a pathfinder to dealing with inequality, he spoke of the power of people living with HIV who have been the drivers of progress in the AIDS response. He called them “true human rights defenders fighting for their lives and for the lives of millions of others.”

While recognizing that there has been progress made in the response to the epidemic, Mr Sidibé stressed that there is still much more to be done. He put special emphasis on the need to reduce the existing prejudice, discrimination, exclusion and criminalization of people living with HIV and to address the punitive approaches to the most vulnerable and at higher risk of infection such as sex workers, people who use drugs, men who have sex with men and transgender people.

“It is outrageous that in 2013, when we have all the tools to address this epidemic, more than 1.7 million people will die because they do not have access to treatment,” said Mr Sidibé. “It is human rights work we must do to end this epidemic—to reach all those in need of HIV prevention, treatment, care and support,” he added.

Mr Sidibé urged that the post-2015 development framework explicitly embrace the human rights framework, as well as a right-based approach to development. Referring to Council members as the world’s foremost leaders on human rights, Mr Sidibé told the Council, “Ending AIDS is a human rights legacy for us all.  We can halt and reverse AIDS if we maintain our momentum and commitments through and after 2015.”

Established in 2006 to replace its predecessor, the Human Rights Council is mandated to promote universal respect for the protection of all human rights and to address situations where they are being violated. Credit: UNAIDS

The UNAIDS Executive Director joined other dignitaries in addressing the High Level Segment of the UN Human Rights Council session, including the German President Joachim Gauck and the Vice Presidents of Colombia and Iraq.

Established in 2006 to replace its predecessor—the Commission on Human Rights—the Human Rights Council is mandated to promote universal respect for the protection of all human rights and to address situations where they are being violated. It also monitors whether member states’ human rights obligations and commitments are met through its Universal Periodic Review mechanism.

During the 22^nd session, which is running from 25 February to 22 March, a broad range of issues are being discussed. These include: the negotiation of a landmark resolution to protect human rights defenders; the rights of children to the highest standard of health; and resolutions on the rights of people with disabilities, minorities and those subjected to racism and xenophobia.

In the lead up to his intervention at the Human Rights Council, Mr Sidibé held a number of bilateral meetings to further the Human Rights agenda. These included the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Nigeria, Professor Viola Onwuliri; the United States Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs, Dr Esther Brimmer; the French Minister Delegate for the Francophony, Ms Yamina Benguigui; and the Minister of Development of Denmark, Christian Friis Bach.

The new model announced by the Global Fund will focus on countries with high disease burden and low resources.
Credit: The Global Fund to fight AIDS. Tuberculosis and Malaria

The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (Global Fund) has recently launched a new funding model for AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. The launch follows a three-year period where funding for the three diseases was halted due to insufficient funds and calls for reforms of the institution and its business model. In this new wave of funding the Global Fund has announced that up to US$1.9 billion could be available in 2013 and 2014.

This is welcome news to the countries which have been most affected by HIV, tuberculosis and malaria and which have been struggling to produce truly effective responses due to a lack of funding. The new model announced by the Global Fund will focus on countries with high disease burden and low resources, allowing the Global Fund to support the countries with the most serious epidemics and least ability to pay.

“This new funding model will bring critical additional resources to the AIDS response,” said Luiz Loures, UNAIDS Deputy Executive Director of Programme. “UNAIDS is looking forward to continue working with the Global Fund to ensure that these resources are available to countries rapidly for scaling up HIV treatment and prevention services.”

The model focuses on strategic investments whereby applications will need to be based on solid scientific evidence using the best epidemiological data to determine where the investments will make most impact. The Global Fund has also announced that the new funding model will be firmly focused on results and that the countries which are producing high impact, well-performing programmes will be able to apply for additional funding on top of their initial allocation.

As well as investing more strategically to maximize on results, the new funding model will provide more predictable funding. All eligible applicants will receive an indication of the funds that will be made available for a three-year allocation period. This will allow for better planning as countries will have a good idea of what funds will be coming to them over the next years. They will then be able to seek funding from this allocation when it suits them best, according to their own national planning cycles. 

The new funding model is expected not only to provide countries with more flexibility with the timing of their funding requests but also to encourage a solid country dialogue around coherent, strategic and high impact investments and strengthened national strategic plans. Each recipient country will be expected to engage a diversity of partners, including civil society, to ensure the most effective and inclusive response to each of the three diseases.

ViiV Healthcare signs agreement to help bridge a critical gap in HIV treatment for children

GENEVA, 28 February 2013—The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) welcomes the new collaboration between the Medicines Patent Pool and ViiV Healthcare to increase access to antiretroviral therapy for children. The new agreement is a significant step forwards in HIV treatment for children as very few antiretroviral drugs are formulated for paediatric use. In 2012 UNAIDS estimated that 72% of children living with HIV who were eligible for treatment did not have access.

Under the collaboration, ViiV will allow the paediatric formulation of the antiretroviral medicine abacavir to be supplied to 118 countries under a license agreement. The 118 countries are home to more than 98% of all children living with HIV. ViiV have also agreed to negotiate further licences that will allow the manufacture of low-cost versions of promising new, better adapted paediatric medicines that ViiV is currently developing. Once approved for safety and quality, the new medicines could also be supplied to the 118 countries.

“The agreement between the Medicines Patent Pool and ViiV promises to narrow a substantial gap in access to HIV treatment and offer new hope for children,” said Michel Sidibé, Executive Director of UNAIDS. “I strongly urge other pharmaceutical companies, especially companies holding antiretroviral therapy patents, to join the Pool and help improve the lives of children and adults living with HIV around the world.”

ViiV has also pledged to work with other stakeholders to develop additional abacavir-based products for children and bring them quickly to market in developing countries. This is an important affirmation of the Medicines Patent Pool’s role in facilitating faster introduction of new, better-adapted and affordable medicines, particularly for developing countries.

The Medicines Patent Pool was founded in 2010 with the support of the innovative financing mechanism UNITAID to increase access to antiretroviral treatment. It works by creating a pool of patents that can be licensed by generic producers, thereby facilitating competition, fostering innovation and driving down prices. The United States National Institutes of Health and Gilead Sciences have previously contributed voluntary licenses to the Medicines Patent Pool.

UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé met with the Danish Minister of Development Christian Friis Bach on 27 February at the UNAIDS Headquarters in Geneva to find ways to further strengthen collaboration. They underlined the progress made in preventing new HIV infections among children and the important impact these efforts are having on women's health, in particular addressing the sexual and reproductive health and rights of women.  

Minister Bach commented on the global consultation organized by Denmark on 18-19 February on addressing inequalities in the post 2015 development agenda where it was highlighted that gender disparities—from access to health and education to political participation, justice or jobs—still present a global challenge. Mr Sidibé emphasized that the AIDS response has been instrumental in reaching out to the most at risk and vulnerable populations and it continues to be a key channel to advance the broader rights agenda.

Quotes

On 20 February, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) presented the results of a four-year evaluation of the United States President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). Led by Dr Robert E. Black, chair of the evaluation committee, the 700-page report is based on an extensive review of data from over 30 countries receiving PEPFAR funding, interviews with partner organizations and stakeholders, and findings from field visits to 13 countries.

The report serves as strong affirmation of PEPFAR’s significant impact on the AIDS epidemic, both in its partner countries and globally. It highlights PEPFAR’s continued relevance and progress in meeting its targets and in its staunch commitment to halting the spread of HIV and saving lives through investments in HIV prevention, treatment and care services.

The report also outlines the significant contribution PEPFAR has made to strengthening partnerships with governments, civil society, development partners and other stakeholders. Its increased attention and commitment to key populations and contribution to addressing the challenging nature of concentrated epidemics, and the overall transformative role in the global HIV response also come out strongly in the report. The report’s conclusions and recommendations for future action, reinforce the strong synergies between UNAIDS vision of zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS-related deaths and the US goal of creating an AIDS-free generation. 

“The United States of America has led a formidable response to the AIDS epidemic. Through PEPFAR the US has actively saved millions of lives and prevented millions of new infections around the world,” said UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé. “We are also encouraged to see that this report emphasizes our common goals to see more country-owned and sustainable approaches achieved through greater shared responsibility.”

The evaluation also shows the clear need for PEPFAR to sustain its progress and to continue being ambitious in achieving real results to halt the global AIDS epidemic. It urges PEPFAR to transition to new implementation models that enhance systems and build capable leadership in partner countries to sustainably and effectively manage their own responses to HIV. “As the HIV response becomes more country-driven, PEPFAR, like other external donors, will need to focus its contribution on national efforts, rather than direct provision of services and attribution of results,” said Dr Black.

The report concludes that PEPFAR has the potential to further transform the way health assistance is envisioned and implemented, with ultimate long-term positive effects for global health and well-being.

In response to report, the head of PEPFAR, Ambassador Eric Goosby, reiterated the importance of the study in shaping PEPFAR’s efforts to implement the Blueprint for Creating an AIDS-free Generation, "We are proud that the IOM stated that PEPFAR has played a transformative role in the global response to HIV. We stand ready to continue to play this role as we work with our partners across the globe to create an AIDS-free generation," he said. "While our work is far from finished, we believe our best days lie ahead as we work with the global community to help countries reach the tipping point in their epidemics, and sustain their AIDS responses over time." He also announced the formation of a US government committee to follow-up on the report’s recommendations.

Study confirms the urgent need for rapid and wide-scale roll out of antiretroviral therapy to communities which have been most affected by the epidemic.

The full results of a study on the effects of antiretroviral therapy in preventing new HIV infections have been published this week in the journal Science. The study, led by Professor Frank Tanser from the Africa Centre, spanned a seven year period (2004-2011), and followed nearly 17 000 people, the largest ever study completed at a population-level in a rural sub-Saharan African setting.

It was conducted in the sub-district of Hlabisa in the rural Province of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The rolling hills of KwaZulu Natal are perhaps one of the most beautiful places on earth but it is also an area which has been particularly affected by the AIDS epidemic. KwaZulu Natal has one of the highest HIV prevalence rates in the world––one in four people over the age of 15 are living with HIV.

The province of KwaZulu Natal has been widely acknowledged as leading a strong provincial response to HIV. In Hlabisa for example, by mid-2012 the Hlabisa HIV Treatment and Care Programme had rolled-out antiretroviral treatment to more than 20 000 people across the area.

The 16 667 participants enrolled in the Professor Tanser’s study did not have HIV at the start of the trial and were regularly tested on average every two years. By the end of the study period 1 413 people had become infected with HIV. The people who tested HIV positive were offered antiretroviral therapy when they became eligible for treatment under national South African guidelines. Initially, adults with a CD4 count of 200 were offered treatment, this was extended to people with CD4 counts of 350, pregnant women and TB patients by April 2010.

What the study found was that the risk of acquiring HIV declined significantly if a person was living in an area where antiretroviral coverage was highest. For example in the areas where treatment coverage was between 30%-40% of all people living with HIV (which corresponds to about 60% of people eligible for treatment under current guidelines) people were nearly 40% less likely to become infected with HIV than in communities where coverage was much lower, at less than 10%. These results are yet further confirmation of the enormous impact antiretroviral therapy could have on morbidity, mortality and new HIV infections if access to treatment was scaled up to full impact levels in populations most affected by HIV.

"This study is extremely significant. It is another piece in the puzzle that shows how treatment keeps people healthy and productive, and at the same time significantly reduces the likelihood to transmit the virus,” said Bernhard Schwartlander, Director of Evidence, Innovation and Policy at UNAIDS. “This large scale population based study, the first in a hyper epidemic region in Africa, delivers powerful evidence that treatment is prevention and is an essential part of our combination prevention tool kit.” 

Concerns relating to the uptake of testing and treatment, retention, adherence, the development of drug resistance and other factors such as the capacity of health systems to deliver antiretroviral therapy have been long-debated, particularly since the findings of the HPTN052 trial were announced in 2011. The HPTN052 trial gave rise to great optimism amongst the HIV community––it showed that if a person living with HIV adheres to an effective antiretroviral regimen the risk of transmitting the virus to their uninfected sexual partner could be reduced by 96%. However larger, population based studies were yet to confirm how these findings apply to community settings.

While it is not unexpected that such a large scale and longer term population level study would pack the percentage punch of the HPTN052 trial, what it lacked in percentage points it made up for in the sheer scale and depth of the trial. What it has done is to bring us one step closer to finding out the true potential of antiretroviral therapy and the enormous impact it could have on preventing new HIV infections in real settings where HIV is part of daily life.

It has given further confirmation of the urgent need for rapid and wide-scale roll out of antiretroviral therapy  to communities which have been most affected by the epidemic. And it has given yet another strong reason for countries to keep their commitments and meet the targets set out in the 2011 United Nations General Assembly Political Declaration on HIV/AIDS––to scale up access to treatment to reach 15 million people by 2015––and to halve the numbers of sexually transmitted HIV infections by 2015.

Screenshot from http://sciencenow.unaids.org

In 2012 alone there were more than 14 000 scientific papers published on HIV. With such an impressive amount of information, it can be challenging to keep abreast of all the new developments. UNAIDS has launched an online platform, UNAIDS Science now, which highlights some of those papers that are particularly relevant to the United Nations high level targets.

UNAIDS Science now is based on what used to be the HIV this week blog also produced by UNAIDS. The new platform however, consists of a bigger interactive site that not only includes access to what’s new in scientific journals, but also space for discussions and debates on current issues around HIV science.

Each month, every title of every paper published will be systematically screened and a selection of about 20 abstracts of the most interesting papers will be compiled in the monthly digest HIV this month. Guest editors will highlight the most exciting articles providing their perspectives on why findings from specific studies are important and where they fit into the broader context of HIV research.

“In the past, HIV this week was an integral part of the reading list, so the launch of HIV this month is welcome news indeed”, notes Dan Allman who teaches an undergraduate course on 'HIV Prevention Research' at the University of Toronto.

The online discussions will be an open space for the exchange of scientific information. They will be chaired by UNAIDS and will have guest speakers/discussants experts in different areas.  The discussions will be webcasted and recordings of the discussions will be made available in the multimedia section of the new platform. Some podcasts on relevant topics will also be forthcoming.

“We hope that UNAIDS Science now will become the ‘go to’ place for all of UNAIDS staff, national AIDS offices, research institutions and university students with an interest in HIV,” said Peter Godfrey-Faussett, UNAIDS Senior Science Adviser. “The new platform will enable readers to have a better-informed position on specific issues, which will in turn translate into a better response to the epidemic.”

Image of one of the promotional images of the campaign featuring the Carnival queens.
Credit: UNAIDS

Last week was Carnival in Panama.  As part of the celebrations during 11-12 February, the Queens of “Calle Arriba” and “Calle Abajo” —representing opposite neighbourhoods— competed against each other in a variety of contests. However when it comes to HIV, the two rivals joined forces to prevent new HIV infections among women.

UNAIDS, in partnership with the Panamanian Carnival Boards of “Calle Arriba” and “Calle Abajo”—the national institutions in charge of planning and coordinating activities related to this festivity— the National AIDS Programme, and PROBIDSIDA, launched a national campaign entitled “I decide, I take care of myself” (Yo decido, yo me cuido).

The campaign, which will run until the end of February, aims to help reduce gender inequalities, empower women and promote sexual and reproductive rights. One of the major goals is to ensure women can make informed decisions in relation to their sexual health, especially when it comes to preventing HIV.

“If we want that no more women get infected with HIV in Panama we need to join efforts at all levels, including institutions, civil society organizations and international agencies. This is why we decided to endorse this initiative,” said Pilar De Amores, Legal Representative of “Calle Arriba” Carnival Board.

In the last decade the number of new HIV infections has been on the rise among young women in Panama. A national survey on sexual and reproductive health held in 2009 and 2010 found that only 9% of women use condoms as a preventive measure during sex. Gender inequality is a major driving force behind the lack of reproductive and sexual rights of women in the country.

“Gender inequalities affect women´s power to insist on and negotiate safe sex practices like condom use, and thus protect themselves from HIV” explains Ricardo Garcia, UNAIDS Country Coordinator for Panama and Costa Rica. “We have created this campaign to increase the recognition of women as having sexual rights and capable of exercising them, in line with the UNAIDS action framework on women, girls, gender equity and HIV”.

The campaign includes television spots that are being broadcast on national networks as well as posters in schools, organizations and on the streets featuring the Carnival queens calling on Panamanian young women to take the lead and protect themselves from HIV.  As part of the campaign, the Queens received special training on issues related to HIV prevention and gender inequalities, in order to participate in public events and media programmes promoting the campaign.

“Women need access to HIV information, education, and services to have control over our bodies and be able to negotiate the use of condoms with our partners,” said Maruquel Madeleine González Velásquez, Queen of “Calle Arriba”. “I feel extremely accomplished to be part of this project,” she added.

How do we promote meaningful empowerment so people everywhere can achieve poverty eradication, social integration, full employment and decent work? This was the key theme of a UNAIDS statement delivered to the 51^st session of the Commission for Social Development in New York on 12 February.

Echoing the priority theme of the entire session, the UNAIDS statement on empowerment highlighted the fact that HIV should be viewed through the prism of a wider development agenda. Citing the seminal 1995 Copenhagen Declaration of the World Summit on Social Development, the statement argued that communicable diseases hinder social progress and often cause poverty and exclusion.

According to the statement, a people-centred approach to the AIDS response will lead to more effective poverty eradication, better social integration and a greater likelihood of having a fulfilling work life. Despite the progress made in this direction to date, the statement also contended that stigma and discrimination are still major barriers to people’s empowerment and that in many countries and communities the human rights of the people living with and affected by HIV are often neglected or flouted.   

UNAIDS called on the gathering to challenge stigma and discrimination in all its forms and promote and protect human rights. This was seen as an imperative not only for an effective challenge to the epidemic but also to achieve sustainable development, social integration and inclusion. 

The 51^st session of the Commission for Social Development is taking place from 6-15 of February and is organised by the Division for Social Policy Development, part of the UN Secretariat’s Department of Economic and Social Affairs.