11th International AIDS Society Conference on HIV Science (IAS 2021)

IAS 2021 was a virtual event running from July 18 to July 21. AVAC tracked the landscape of prevention research to explain, frame, connect and contextualize what’s new, what’s next and what it all means for advocacy.

Below we gathered some resources and highlights.

Resources

• AVAC’s Roadmap tracked sessions where prevention was in the spotlight. You can download it as a sortable spreadsheet or pdf.

• AVAC’s Research Literacy Zone took the conversation deeper with advocates and researchers exploring timely topics including: updates on rolling out the Dapivirine Vaginal Ring, updates on recent results and new trials, advances in vaccine and cure research and new approaches to understanding social factors that impact health. See the full schedule here.

• In real time, AVAC offered comments and updates on Twitter @HIVpxresearch, and our friends at NAM/AIDSMAP reported throughout the conference. You could also follow the conversation using the conference hashtag, #IAS2021.

Satellites, sessions and panels featuring AVAC and partners

Sunday, July 18

Symposium—Pivoting HIV prevention during a parallel pandemic
Ch. 4 14:00-14:50 CEST / 8:00-8:50 EDT
This session explored how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted HIV prevention services and some of the positive changes to how services are managed. Co-moderated by AVAC’s Micheal Ighodaro and Loice OMBAJO, University of Nairobi, Kenya

Monday, July 19

Satellite—Paving the road for new PrEP products: The promise of differentiated, simplified, and decentralized delivery to maximize the potential of emerging PrEP products
Ch. 2 08:30-09:30 CEST / 2:30am-3:30 EDT
Though the world missed the 2020 UNAIDS targets for the uptake of PrEP, there have been gains. PrEP uptake has increased over 100 percent since 2019, largely due to efforts to innovate and adapt PrEP delivery. Instead of clinic-centered models, mobile, pharmacy, and virtual approaches are supporting the effective use of PrEP. The next generation of PrEP, including long-acting injectables, antiretroviral-containing vaginal rings, and the dual prevention pill, must learn from these experiences. Implementers, advocates and researchers discuss these models and others to scale up all forms of PrEP to reach those who need it. Chaired by AVAC’s Jessica Rodrigues, Anna Grimsrud of the International AIDS Society, Davina Canagasabey and Kim Green of PATH.

Symposium—What is missing in the HIV response? Strengthening HIV programmes for trans populations in the Global South (CME)
Ch. 3 11:00-11:50 CEST / 5:00-5:50 EDT
A recent systemic review of health studies among trans populations revealed a dearth of information on health outcomes outside of North and South America. What’s more, little of such research is underway in the Pacific or Asia (Reisner et al., 2015). Without this information how can HIV programmes effectively design interventions, develop indicators and plan for monitoring and evaluation. This session featured a dialogue among academics, HIV service providers and trans community members on where research must expand and to engage the trans community in the development of this research agenda.

Symposium—Build it: But will they come? Prevention efficacy versus population effectiveness
Ch. 3 14:00-15:50 CEST / 8:00-9:50 EDT
Community uptake is crucial for the success of prevention interventions. This session included a discussion how the field can better prepare for the delivery of effective prevention interventions and how communities can contribute to ensuring their success. Co-moderated by AVAC’s Manju Chatani-Gada and Moses R. Kamya of Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.

Satellite—Bringing the Dual Prevention Pill to Market: Opportunities for HIV and Pregnancy Prevention and Implications for Future Multipurpose Prevention Technologies
Ch. 1 21:00-22:30 CEST / 15:00-16:30 EDT
The Dual Prevention Pill (DPP), a tablet containing oral PrEP and combined oral contraceptive, is likely to be the first MPT with PrEP to go to market. This combination, preventing both pregnancy and HIV, may transform challenges related to stigma that women face taking PrEP alone. Using the DPP as a case study, this session highlighted practical considerations for future MPTs such as: What are best practices with end users and providers? How do different financing sources for family planning and HIV shape next steps? What approaches can be used to estimate impact? Download the flyer.

Tuesday July 20th

Satellite—An HIV vaccine: who needs it?
Ch. 3 19:00-20:30 CEST / 13:00-14:30 EDT
The response to the HIV epidemic, now in its fourth decade, has marked tremendous progress in developing effective treatments and prevention options, but the challenge of developing a safe and effective HIV vaccine persists, raising important questions about where an HIV vaccine should fit in our global efforts to end the epidemic. Co-sponsored by the Global HIV Vaccine Enterprise at IAS and UNAIDS, this satellite reaffirms the case for an HIV vaccine against a background of effective but not yet broadly accessible or acceptable prevention. The panel discussion, including AVAC’s Daisy Ouya and others, explored critical questions that will come when an HIV vaccine is discovered, such as who should be immunized, what will be the benefits, the costs, and who will pay?