A new report from AVAC [AIDS Vaccine Advocacy Coalition] surveys the state of biomedical HIV prevention research, including the first evidence of vaccine-induced protection in humans and the emergence of ARV-based prevention—and provides strategic recommendations for moving forward in a time of constrained resources and faltering commitment to ending AIDS. Turning the Page, AVAC’s 13th annual report on the state of the HIV prevention research field, offers unique context and a timely critique for issues that will be center stage at the upcoming XVIII International AIDS  Conference (IAC) in Vienna, Austria. These issues are also central to the AIDS response outlined in the first ever US National HIV/AIDS Strategy, released on 13th of July 2010.

As the report describes, scientific developments in several arenas of biomedical prevention research have re-energized the search for additional strategies. In the vaccine field this includes the first evidence of vaccine-induced protection and strides in identification of new potent, HIV-specific neutralizing antibodies. Antiretroviral-based prevention also shows potential, and the report provides context for the upcoming results of the CAPRISA 004 microbicide trial, the first effectiveness trial of an ARV-based prevention strategy in HIV-negative people.

"Turning the Page" and other AVAC publications, including an upcoming report on anticipating the results of ARV-based prevention trials, are available www.avac.org.

See the full article on citizen-news.org.