It Is Not All About Money!

This was the first time that the International AIDS Society (IAS) conference was held in Asia, and in an Islamic country (The 7-th IAS Conference on HIV Pathogenesis, Treatment and Prevention, Kuala Lumpur, June/July 2013).

Take home naloxone program started in Estonia

The take home naloxone program in Estonia was launched in September 2013. 500 kits with the pre-filled naloxone syringes has been ordered for this year. The work started in two sites - one in Tallinn and one in North-Eastern region of the country in the city of Jõhvi.

Don't be UNAIDS. Do something!

Today, it is clear that we can stop HIV. There are effective HIV drugs which help people to live a full life and to stop the epidemic. There are many concepts and strategies aimed at counteracting HIV: "Together we can stop HIV", "CrowdOut HIV", "Getting to Zero". However, it is also clear that catchy slogans are not enough; real actions are needed. Don't be UNAIDS. Do something.

Eurasian Harm Reduction Network calls for proposals for sub-recipients within EHRN Regional programme

EHRN is happy to announce the Call for Applications for sub-recipients of the Regional Programme. The non-governmental organizations from the following countries are invited to apply: Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Tajikistan. Five NGOs (one from 5 countries) will be selected as sub-recipients, thus determining the 5 target countries for the Regional programme.

Sign-up now to the "European HIV testing week - 2013"

The HIV in Europe initiative is calling for the European community to unite for one week: Friday 22 – Friday 29 November 2013to create a strong and successful European HIV testing week with the aim of increasing the proportion of people who are aware of their HIV status and reducing late HIV diagnosis.

TechAtlas Group Releases Hepatitis C Competitive Landscape Analysis

TechAtlas Group has announced the release of the latest Hepatitis C (HCV) competitive landscape map. This particular landscape highlights 25 international companies with over 60 drugs and combinations currently on the market and in development.

Affordable access to life-saving medicines is a human right

To mark World Hepatitis Day this year, activists protested the high price of hepatitis C treatment at rallies in Russia, Armenia, Georgia, Ukraine, and Latvia.

We advocate for c Hepatitis treatment

The prices of the main component of C Hepatitis treatment - pegylated interferon - are constantly high for the last 15 years. There are only two major manufacturers of pegylated interferons in the world - "Roche" and "Merck Sharp&Dohme".

People who start treatment earlier may have better chance of future control of HIV without medication, say French researchers

People with HIV who start treatment with CD4 counts above 500, after the first phase of primary infection is over, are much more likely to experience substantial reductions in the reservoir of HIV-infected cells in their bodies, making them strong candidates for future research studies that seek to control HIV without medication, French researchers reported at the 7th International AIDS Society Conference on HIV Pathogenesis, Treatment and Prevention (IAS 2013) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

NGO mentoring workshop

NGO social enterprise and development seminar to be held at the U.S. Embassy Riga on July 16 from 8:30 AM to 12:15 PM. Leading the seminar will be graduates from Yale University, who will be speaking about their experiences and conducting mentoring sessions.

Reduced efavirenz dose suppresses HIV as well as standard dose

Lowering the dosage of efavirenz (Sustiva or Stocrin) from 600 to 400mg in an antiretroviral regimen did not compromise efficacy, a finding that has the potential to substantially reduce treatment cost in all regions of the world. The non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor efavirenz is among the most widely used antiretroviral agents, and is a preferred component of first-line therapy in HIV treatment guidelines from Europe, the US, and the newly updated World Health Organization recommendations released at the conference.

The real way to complete healing

amfAR-funded researcher Dr. Timothy Henrich of Harvard Medical School today reported on the case of two HIV-positive patients who show no trace of virus following stem-cell transplants.

WHO issues new HIV recommendations calling for earlier treatment

Earlier, safer and simpler antiretroviral therapy can push the HIV epidemic into irreversible decline. The new recommendations encourage all countries to initiate treatment in adults living with HIV when their CD4 cell count falls to 500 cells/mm³ or less – when their immune systems are still strong.

Activists call Gilead Sciences on tenofovir alafenamide fumarate

Activists and the scientific community have known about the potential benefits of tenofovir alafenamide fumarate (TAF), over those of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF), for twelve years; it is disappointing that its clinical development was delayed until the twilight of TDF’s patent protection.

European HIV Testing week

On behalf of the HIV in Europe initiative we are delighted to inform you that plans are underway to introduce a new date in the HIV calendar. HIV in Europe is working towards creating a European HIV Testing week that will raise awareness of the importance of early and regular HIV testing amongst those most at risk in the week ahead of World AIDS Day 2013 – Friday 22 November to Friday 29 November 2013.

Tenofovir in HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis

The Bangkok Tenofovir Study was the first study of its kind examining a once-a-day HIV prevention method known as PrEP, or pre-exposure prophylaxis, among a population of injection drug users in Thailand.

LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD

The European Commission will convene in a high-level meeting with key HIV/AIDS stakeholders May 27-28 in Brussels, Belgium for the “Right to Health, Right to Life” conference. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the way forward in the European region after the current action plan on combating HIV/AIDS expires at the end of 2013. A coalition of European AIDS organizations is calling on the European Commission to use this meeting as an opportunity to recommit itself to the fight against HIV/AIDS, TB, Hepatitis and other sexually-transmitted diseases (STDs).

World Hepatitis Day 2013

Campaign Theme - This is Hepatitis - Know it. Confront it. This year on the 28th July we will be celebrating the 6th World Hepatitis Day.

Community consensus statement on the use of ARV treatment as prevention (draft paper for discussions)

This is a community consensus statement on the use and prescription of antiretroviral therapy (ART) to people living with HIV to reduce their risk of transmitting HIV. This statement will be circulated widely round organisations representing both people living with HIV and affected communities - and to prevention as well as treatment advocacy organisations. Then a final draft will be prepared for discussion at a community pre-satellite on Sunday 22nd September in advance of the second IAPAC TasP/PrEP summit in London on 22-24 September.

Call to the European Union leaders and the European Commission to reaffirm their leadership and commitment on HIV/AIDS

Some members of the EU Civil Society Forum on HIV have put together the call to the European Commission leadership to renew its commitment on HIV/AIDS in Europe (EU and its neighbouring countries) after the current strategy document ends in December 2013. The call is being  circulated for endorsement to community group at national level, other NGOs (including international) and prominent persons including elected representatives, doctors, researchers etc.