Demonstrating the efficacy of antiretroviral therapies and other treatments in preventing the spread of HIV, Thomas Quinn, MD, showed that there is hope for decreasing HIV transmissions across the world. He cautioned, however, that HIV/AIDS still remains a global pandemic, and more work must be done to accelerate the rate of decrease in HIV infections.
New biomedical strategies for preventing HIV/AIDS were covered in a plenary lecture at the 25th European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology Congress in Vienna, Austria, this Thursday. “The New Threats of HIV & STIs” was presented by Thomas C. Quinn, MD, distinguished investigator and head of the section on international HIV/AIDS research in the Laboratory of Immunoregulation at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, associate director for international research for the Division of Intramural Research at NIAID, professor of medicine and pathology in the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, and professor of international health, epidemiology, and immunology and molecular microbiology in The Johns Hopkins School of Public Health.
By demonstrating the efficacy of antiretroviral therapies (ARTs) and other treatments in preventing the spread of HIV, Quinn showed that there is hope for decreasing HIV transmissions across the world. He cautioned, however, that HIV/AIDS still remains a global pandemic, and more work must be done to accelerate the rate of decrease in HIV infections.
The current state of HIV/AIDS is startling: 36.7 million people across the world are currently living with HIV. Nonetheless, there have been significant advances in the treatment and prevention of the virus, Quinn explained. Approximately 17 million affected individuals are on life-saving therapy in the form of ARTs, which, as Quinn put it, “have converted this fatal disease to one that can be treated for life.” Moreover, The United States President’s Emergency Plan for Aids Relief (PEPFAR), a global HIV prevention strategy headed by the US, has led to an increase in life expectancies since it began, in 2003.
Despite these improvements, however, HIV/AIDS continues on as a global pandemic. In 2015, 1.1 million people died from AIDS, and there were 2.1 million new HIV infections. “This epidemic has a reached a stable status in many areas of the world … it is not declining as we’d like to see," Quinn said.
To accelerate the rate of decrease in HIV infections across the world, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) has set a treatment target known as the 90-90-90 target. It calls for the following baselines by 2020:
Quinn explained that ARTs are helping to make this a reality. Several randomized trials have substantiated the effectiveness of ARTs in preventing the spread of HIV through viral suppression. Furthermore, in areas of the world where ARTs are used by over 50% of affected individuals, the treatments have led to a decrease in HIV incidence overall.
“But people must have access to ARTs,” Quinn explained. Unfortunately, access to treatment is often limited in countries that still use extremely low CD4 counts as triggers for treatment, as is the case in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. “So the message to countries and policy makers is to try to get more and more people into treatment, because it will lower the incidence and the spread of HIV infection.”
There are also effective prevention strategies for those individuals who are at risk of HIV infection. Quinn highlighted the efficacy of male circumcision and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) pills (brand name Truvada) in reducing the risk of infection. He warned, however, that PrEPs do not prevent against STIs, which also increase the risk of HIV infection. Those taking PrEPs are advised to be cautious in their sexual practices.
Quinn was hopeful that the 90-90-90 target could be reached by 2020, but only if ARTs and other treatments are universally accepted and provided.
“Countries have to face strategic choices and take advantage of all these opportunities for treatment and prevention," he said.
The Pivotal Role of Payers in Improving Health Equity, Maternal Health Care in the US
March 26th 2024A presentation at the Greater Philadelphia Business Coalition on Health's 2024 Women’s Health Summit discussed how payers, including employers and public entities, can strategically influence health care purchasing to prioritize maternal health and equity.
Read More
The Importance of Examining and Preventing Atrial Fibrillation
August 29th 2023At this year’s American Society for Preventive Cardiology Congress on CVD Prevention, Emelia J. Benjamin, MD, ScM, delivered the Honorary Fellow Award Lecture, “The Imperative to Focus on the Prevention of Atrial Fibrillation,” as the recipient of this year’s Honorary Fellow of the American Society for Preventive Cardiology award.
Listen
Promoting Equity in Public Health: Policy, Investment, and Community Engagement Solutions
June 28th 2022On this episode of Managed Care Cast, we speak with Georges C. Benjamin, MD, executive director of the American Public Health Association, on the core takeaways of his keynote session at AHIP 2022 on public health policy and other solutions to promote equitable health and well-being.
Listen
A global AIDS program that was in limbo for months got temporary relief after congressional negotiators agreed to a 1-year renewal in the next government funding package; the outcome of the November presidential election could determine the state of fetal tissue research in the US; federal officials and industry executives failed to make improvements that stop hacking attacks.
Read More
The Pivotal Role of Payers in Improving Health Equity, Maternal Health Care in the US
March 26th 2024A presentation at the Greater Philadelphia Business Coalition on Health's 2024 Women’s Health Summit discussed how payers, including employers and public entities, can strategically influence health care purchasing to prioritize maternal health and equity.
Read More
The Importance of Examining and Preventing Atrial Fibrillation
August 29th 2023At this year’s American Society for Preventive Cardiology Congress on CVD Prevention, Emelia J. Benjamin, MD, ScM, delivered the Honorary Fellow Award Lecture, “The Imperative to Focus on the Prevention of Atrial Fibrillation,” as the recipient of this year’s Honorary Fellow of the American Society for Preventive Cardiology award.
Listen
Promoting Equity in Public Health: Policy, Investment, and Community Engagement Solutions
June 28th 2022On this episode of Managed Care Cast, we speak with Georges C. Benjamin, MD, executive director of the American Public Health Association, on the core takeaways of his keynote session at AHIP 2022 on public health policy and other solutions to promote equitable health and well-being.
Listen
A global AIDS program that was in limbo for months got temporary relief after congressional negotiators agreed to a 1-year renewal in the next government funding package; the outcome of the November presidential election could determine the state of fetal tissue research in the US; federal officials and industry executives failed to make improvements that stop hacking attacks.
Read More
2 Commerce Drive
Cranbury, NJ 08512