Coverage of the 2014 International AIDS Conference

HIVandHepatitis.com coverage of the 20th International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2014), July 20-25, in Melbourne, Australia.

Conference highlights include biomedical HIV prevention (PrEP and treatment-as-prevention), HIV cure research, interferon-free therapy for hepatitis C and HIV/HCV coinfection, access to treatment, and fighting stigma and criminalization of key affected populations.

Full listing by topic

AIDS 2014 website

7/25/14

Studies Look at Hepatitis C Care Cascade and Healthcare Utilization

Half of people with hepatitis C in the U.S. are aware of their infection, but fewer than 10% have been successfully treated and achieved sustained virological response (SVR), according to a meta-analysis published July 2 in the open-access journal PLoS ONE. Despite these gaps in testing, care, and treatment, hepatitis C accounts for a substantial share of healthcare utilization, especially among baby boomers, a related study found.

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AIDS 2014: HIV/HCV Coinfected Have High Cure Rates with Interferon-free Hep C Combos

Two studies presented at the 20thInternational AIDS Conference this week in Melbourne showed that all-oral regimens of direct-acting antiviral agents for hepatitis C are safe and effective for HIV positive people. Both regimens demonstrated sustained virological response rates similar to those seen in people with HCV alone.

-- Sofosbuvir + Ribavirin Cures More Than 80% of HIV/HCV Coinfected People

-- AbbVie 3D Regimen Cures Most Genotype 1 HIV/HCV Coinfected Patients

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ASCO: HCV Reactivation, Brain Involvement Do Not Worsen Lymphoma Survival for People with HIV

Reactivation of hepatitis C was common among HIV positive people with lymphoma, but did not appear to lead to worse outcomes or decreased survival, according to a study presented at the 50th American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) meeting this week in Chicago. A related study found that having central nervous system involvement at the time of diagnosis did not decrease survival of people with AIDS-related lymphoma.

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AIDS 2014: AbbVie 3D Regimen Cures Most Genotype 1 HIV/HCV Coinfected Patients

An all-oral regimen of 3 direct-acting antivirals plus ribavirin taken for 12 weeks demonstrated a sustained virological response rate of 94% for people coinfected with HIV and genotype 1 hepatitis C in the TURQUOISE-I study, according to a late-breaking report at the 20th International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2014) this week in Melbourne, Australia.

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Hepatitis C Cascade Studies Show Gaps in Testing and Treatment

About half of people with hepatitis C are aware of their infection but less than 10% have been successfully treated and achieved sustained virological response, according to a meta-analysis presented at the recent Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI 2014). A related study found that among HIV/HCV coinfected people, 40% had been referred to hepatitis C care but only 4% were cured.

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AIDS 2014: Sofosbuvir + Ribavirin Cures More Than 80% of HIV/HCV Coinfected People

An interferon-free regimen of sofosbuvir (Sovaldi) plus ribavirin for 24 weeks led to sustained virological response in 84% to 89% of HIV positive chronic hepatitis C patients with HCV genotypes 1, 2, 3, or 4, according to results from the PHOTON-2 study presented at the 20th International AIDS Conference in Melbourne, Australia. Cure rates were lower, however, for genotype 1a patients with liver cirrhosis.

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CROI 2014: How Fast Does Fibrosis Progress in Acute Hepatitis C Patients with and without HIV?

Liver disease was found to progress slowly in studies of both HIV negative people with newly acquired hepatitis C virus (HCV) and HIV/HCV coinfected people with acute HCV, according to a pair of studies presented at the recent Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections.

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