News

WHO PQDx is a valuable initiative that improves the quality of in vitro diagnostics for under-served populations in countries where regulatory systems are weak or non-existent. However, broader attention to some of the existing inefficiencies and longer-term risks concerning the successful implementation of this important programme is needed. Our viewpoint discusses challenges of WHO PQDx, in particular around its scope, processes, timelines and financing. It also highlights the manufacturers’ responsibilities and is informed by consolidated feedback from a large number of experts working in the in vitro diagnostics and medical devices industries, along with insightful comments from WHO. The paper was accepted for publication on 17 August 2017 and assigned to Clinical Infectious Diseases’ 6 January 2018’s issue. It is freely available at https://doi.org/10.1093/cid/cix719.

Many community leaders across the United States are calling for just that: an end to the HIV/AIDS epidemic in their cities, their counties, and their states. In many ways, this is aparadigm shift – rather than asking for unambitious, incremental progress in reducing new infections and increasing viral suppression rates, communities of activists, service providers, health departments, elected officials, people living with HIV, and other key stakeholders are doing the work to create ambitious and bold plans to improve the health outcomes of all people living with and vulnerable to the virus and to drive HIV/AIDS below epidemic levels.

As 2017 comes to a close, we would like to personally thank all our federal and community partners that have helped to advance our national efforts in the battle against viral hepatitis.  

Although much has been accomplished this year, we are still losing ground. The opioid epidemic is fueling increases in hepatitis B and C, and a growing number of infants are now at risk. More than 4 million Americans from all walks of life are already infected, but just over half of them know they have the virus, and hepatitis-related deaths are at near record levels. 

HIVMA addressed the impacts of unaffordable prescription drugs with these comments to Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pension committee members in advance of their hearing on drug pricing Tuesday.

The AETC National Coordinating Resource Center and the University of Washington have developed the National HIV Curriculum, an educational web site offering free CME and CNE credits. 

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Juluca, the first complete treatment regimen containing only two drugs to treat certain adults with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) instead of three or more drugs included in standard HIV treatment. Juluca is a fixed-dose tablet containing two previously approved drugs (dolutegravir and rilpivirine) to treat adults with HIV-1 infections whose virus is currently suppressed on a stable regimen for at least six months, with no history of treatment failure and no known substitutions associated with resistance to the individual components of Juluca.

 November is a time to be thankful for many reasons and here at OHAIDP, we are thankful for all our partners and our shared accomplishments.

The interest and follow up from our Hidden Casualties: Consequences of the Opioid Epidemic on the Spread of Infectious Diseases event has been phenomenal. The opioid crisis in the United States has reached epidemic levels. Our office, along with many of our partners, are continuing to address this critical health threat. If you haven’t seen the powerful webcast, you can read the event coverage in USA Today or view the event video with transcripts.

STD Curriculum launched

The University of Washington STD Prevention Training Center has developed the National STD Curriculum website addressing the epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, management, and prevention of chlamydia, gonorrhea, HSV, HPV, PID, syphilis and vaginitis. The website is free, integrates the most recent CDC STD Treatment Guidelines, and includes self-study modules for continuing education credits with interactive board-review style questions, and reference materials.

Washington DC, November 8, 2017 – The Liver Forum is pleased to announce the publication of its first manuscript, Baseline Parameters in Clinical Trials for Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis: Recommendations From the Liver Forum,published as a Commentary in the September 2017 volume of the peer-reviewed journal Gastroenterology. The development of this manuscript included input and contributions from key opinion leaders in the field of NASH, and was led by Dr. Yuval Patel (Duke University), Dr. Andrew Muir (Duke University), and Dr. Joanne Imperial (Conatus Pharmaceuticals). The published article is available at: https://doi.org/10.1053/j.gastro.2017.07.024.

A message from Treatment Action Group

Now is the time to end the HIV/AIDS epidemic in America’s southern states.

Over the past four years, innovative Ending the Epidemic (EtE) plans have emerged in several jurisdictions across the nation following New York’s 2014 announcement that it will end the state’s HIV epidemic by 2020. While most of these plans have been announced for cities, counties, and states outside of the South, community advocates in Fulton County, Georgia blazed their own trail in 2014, working with local government to establish a task force and develop an EtE plan. Houston community advocates led a process to develop their own plan in partnership with the Houston Health Department, ultimately launching their Roadmap to Ending the HIV Epidemic in Houston in December of 2016.

One thing is abundantly clear: We can’t end the epidemic in the U.S. if we don’t end it in the South.