IAS 2019: WHO recommends dolutegravir as preferred HIV treatment option in all populations
Based on new evidence assessing benefits and risks, the WHO recommends the use of the HIV drug dolutegravir (DTG) as the preferred first-line and second-line treatment for all populations, including pregnant women and those of childbearing potential.
Initial studies had highlighted a possible link between DTG and neural tube defects (birth defects of the brain and spinal cord that cause conditions such as spina bifida) in infants born to women using the drug at the time of conception. This potential safety concern was reported in May 2018 from a study in Botswana that found 4 cases of neural tube defects out of 426 women who became pregnant while taking DTG. Based on these preliminary findings, many countries advised pregnant women and women of childbearing potential to take efavirenz (EFV) instead.
New data from two large clinical trials comparing the efficacy and safety of DTG and EFV in Africa have now expanded the evidence base. The risks of neural tube defects are significantly lower than what the initial studies may have suggested. DTG is a drug that is more effective, easier to take and has fewer side effects than alternative drugs that are currently used. DTG also has a high genetic barrier to developing drug resistance, which is important given the rising trend of resistance to EFV and nevirapine-based regimens. In 2019, 12 out of 18 countries surveyed by WHO reported pre-treatment drug resistance levels exceeding the recommended threshold of 10%.
WHO press release: https://www.who.int/news-room/detail/22-07-2019-who-recommends-dolutegravir-as-preferred-hiv-treatment-option-in-all-populations
WHO Guideines 2019: https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/325892/WHO-CDS-HIV-19.15-eng.pdf
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Virtual Workshop: Recognition And Control Of Mtb Infected Cells: From Basics To The Clinic | 13 – 14June 2023
The Stop
TB Partnership Working Group on New TB Vaccines (WGNV) and the National
Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)are
co-hosting a workshop on the topic of Recognition and Control of Mtb
Infected Cells: From Basics to the Clinic. This workshop is intended to address
the need for correlates and to identify platforms that measure recognition or
control of the infected cell - especially in humans - as identified in the EDCTP/AIGHD Global Roadmap for
Research and Development of New TB Vaccines and the Strategic Framework for
New TB Vaccines in the Stop TB Partnership Global Plan to End TB 2023 - 2030.
The overall goals of this workshop
are to:
- elucidate the mechanisms by
which the immune system recognizes the Mtb-infected cell
- explore the degree to which
such recognition can lead to control of the intracellular microbe, and
- discuss the translational
implications of these observations
The workshop format will be largely
discussion-based. Each session will have three short presentations that will
provide a high-level overview of key topics within the session theme, followed
by a discussion between the session chairs, speakers, and participants.
Click here
to view the programme and
speakers.
This workshop is free of charge and
open to any participants interested in this topic.
Ssi/Isid Infectious Diseases Research Fellowships | Deadline For Applications: 16 June 2023
The International Society for Infectious Diseases (ISID) and the Swiss
Society for Infectious Diseases (SSI) are inviting applications for their joint
Infectious Diseases Research Fellowship Program. The purpose of this programme
is to support infectious disease physicians and scientists from under-resourced
countries through multidisciplinary clinical and laboratory training at a
select biomedical institution in Zurich, Switzerland. The one-year SSI/ISID
Fellowship programme is open to applicants who are 40 years or younger,
citizens and permanent residents of under-resourced countries or Eastern
Europe. The deadline for applications is 16 June 2023.
More information: https://na.eventscloud.com/eSites/748378/Homepage
Ethical Review Of Decentralized Clinical Trials (Dcts): Tools, Resources & Best Practices.
The MRCT Center and Medable convened a multi-stakeholder task force to address ethical and regulatory opportunities and challenges related to Decentralized Clinical Trials (DCTs). Join them on June 20, from 10 - 11 AM ET, for a joint webinar entitled, "Ethical Review of Decentralized Clinical Trials (DCTs): Tools, Resources & Best Practices."
During the webinar, Barbara Bierer (MRCT Center), Pam Tenaerts
(Medable) and Leanne Madre (Medable) will present a framework, recommendations,
and tools organized around 3 DCT domains: People, Remote Data Collection, and
Data Oversight. Best practices for the ethical review, approval, and conduct of
DCTs will be provided.
Clinical trial stakeholders (IRB/ECs,
HRPP, sites, sponsors, investigators, and others) to register for the webinar here