Inside This Issue: Highlights from the 2021 Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections

Highlights from the 28^th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections

For the second consecutive year, the Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI) was held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  This year, there were approximately 3,500 registered participants from around the world. The CROI 2021 virtual presentations took place from March 6 through 10, and covered a wide range of topics related to HIV and viral hepatitis, as well as COVID-19 and the virus responsible for it (SARS-CoV-2).

This issue of In Brief is devoted to highlights from CROI in the form of headlines from the HIV, medical, and scientific press, together with links to more detailed coverage. For your convenience, we have curated the headlines by topic and subtopic, so that you may quickly review important developments and then explore in depth news items that are of greatest interest to you.  The curated topic areas are:

• CROI Abstracts and Conference Coverage from Other Sites
• COVID-19 and SARS-CoV-2 (including overlap of COVID-19 and HIV)
• U.S. and Global HIV/AIDS Epidemic
• HIV Prevention (including pre-exposure prophylaxis – PrEP)
• HIV Care and Treatment (including HIV the care continuum, drug interactions, and side effects)
• HIV in Specific Population Groups
• HIV Comorbidities

CROI Abstracts and Conference Coverage from Other Sites

CROI Summaries

Virtual CROI 2021 Website: Unlike previous years, recordings of the CROI 2021’s live and on-demand sessions are only available to conference registrants. However, they are expected to become open access after six months. In response to community pressure, the conference organizers have made a PDF version of the CROI 2021 abstract book available to the public. 

Really Rapid Review – CROI 2021 Virtual: This summary by Paul Sax was published in NEJM Journal Watch shortly after the conference ended.  It includes a series of brief summaries of about 30 developments in the prevention and treatment of HIV infection, viral hepatitis, and COVID-19. Although the brief summaries contain links to associated abstracts, one must be a registered CROI participant to access the abstracts.

Blog Posts and Videos from HIV.gov: The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) HIV.gov site published the following blog posts and associated videos summarizing news from CROI:

• HIV & COVID-19, Potential New HIV Prevention Tools, and More: Research Highlights from CROI 2021
• CDC’s CROI 2021 Select Studies of Interest
• Final HIV Prevention & Treatment Research Highlights from CROI 2021

 

Summaries from TheBodyPro: This website published a series of articles containing brief reports of selected highlights from CROI:

• Major Conference on HIV and COVID-19 Under Fire for Putting Science Behind Paywall
• New COVID-19 Research and HIV Intervention Breakthroughs Are on the Menu at CROI 2021 
• CROI 2021 Data Bites: HIV Treatment and the Care Continuum
• CROI 2021 Data Bites: HIV and COVID-19
• CROI 2021 Data Bites: HIV Prevention and Epidemiology
• CROI 2021 Data Bites: HIV-Related Complications and Comorbidities

CROI News Pages from Other Sites

Several HIV-specific and health news sites have created web pages focusing on CROI 2021 and its highlights.  These sites and their CROI web pages are listed and linked to below:

National AIDS Treatment Advocacy Project (NATAP): Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections 2021 – NATAP has some of the most extensive coverage of CROI 2021, with more than 100 research summaries posted when this In Brief issue went to press.

AIDSmap: CROI 2021

Poz: #CROI 2021

HIV i-base:  28^th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections

Healio: Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections. Please note: Free registration may be required to access articles.

MedPage Today: CROI – Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections. Free registration may be required to access articles.

COVID-19 and SARS-CoV-2

COVID-19 and HIV

COVID-19 and HIV Will Be Front and Center (TheBodyPro – section of CROI summary article)

In Opening Talk Dr. Fauci Looks at the “Two-Way Street” of Lessons from HIV and COVID-19 (Science Speaks Blog)

Disparate Impacts of Two Pandemics Highlight Systemic and Leadership Failures Across Four Decades (Science Speaks Blog)

In Africa, HIV Services Recovered Well from Initial COVID-19 Disruptions (TheBodyPro – section of CROI summary article)

‘Resilient’ HIV Programmes in African Countries Have Maintained Viral Suppression During the COVID-19 Pandemic (AIDSmap)

HIV Not a Factor in COVID-19 Outcomes for Pregnant Women (TheBodyPro – section of CROI summary article); related coverage from MedPage Today

COVID-19 Hospitalization Risk Greater for People Living with HIV, Driven by Comorbidities (TheBodyPro – section of CROI summary article); related coverage from AIDSmap

COVID-19 Vaccines

Equitable Access to COVID-19 Vaccines: Resources for Advocates (AVAC)

Advocates Call for Global Access to COVID-19 Vaccines (Poz)

Urgency of Global Access to Vaccines, the Potential of mAbs and the Lessons Learned from HIV (i-base)

Could One mRNA COVID Shot Be Adequate for Past Infectees? (MedPage Today); related coverage from Healio

COVID-19 Treatment

Antibody Cocktail Seems to Prevent COVID-19 Spread (Medscape); related coverage from TheBodyPro (section of summary article)

Monoclonal Antibody Bamlanivimab for COVID-19: “Proof of Concept” for Passive Immunity, More Evidence of Effective Treatment (TheBodyPro – section of CROI summary article)

Five-Day Course of Oral Antiviral Appears to Stop SARS-CoV-2 in Its Tracks (Medscape)

 

COVID-19 Health Outcomes (see also “COVID-19 and HIV” above)

Autoantibodies May Play Role in COVID-19 Neurological Complications (TheBodyPro – section of CROI summary article)

From COVID-19 Testing to Death, Toll of the Inverse Care Law Continues, Swiss Study Finds (Science Speaks Blog)

 

U.S. and Global HIV/AIDS Epidemic

U.S. Epidemic

HIV Treatment Initiation Speeding Up in U.S. (TheBodyPro – section of CROI summary article)

Pronounced Racial HIV Disparities Persist in the U.S., with Some Signs of Slow Improvement (AIDSmap)

By 2030, a Quarter of People Taking HIV Treatment in the U.S. Will Be Over 65 and Most Will Have Multiple Health Concerns (AIDSmap); related coverage from Poz and TheBodyPro (section of summary article)

In U.S. Deep South, Time to Viral Suppression Is Improving, But Inequalities Remain (TheBodyPro – section of CROI summary article)

HIV Diagnoses and Mortality Trends Among American Indians and Alaska Natives (TheBodyPro – section of CROI summary article)

Large Numbers Now on Descovy PrEP in the United States (AIDSmap)

Global Epidemic

In Africa, HIV Services Recovered Well from Initial COVID-19 Disruptions (TheBodyPro – section of CROI summary article)

Getting PrEP to Key Populations Is Critical to Global Fight Against HIV (The Foundation for AIDS Research)

Social Networks Key to PrEP Uptake in Rural Kenya and Uganda (AIDSmap)

Resistance Testing Does Not Improve Viral Suppression After First-Line Failure in South Africa and Uganda (AIDSmap)

‘Resilient’ HIV Programmes in African Countries Have Maintained Viral Suppression During the COVID-19 Pandemic (AIDSmap)

African Study Confirms Dolutegravir for Second-Line Treatment and Supports Recycling of Tenofovir (AIDSmap)

‘Amazon Prime’-Type ART Delivery Worked for South African HIV Patients (MedPage Today); related coverage from Healio

COVID-19 Impact in Pregnancy ‘Severe’ in Cohort of HIV-Positive South African Women (Healio)

Targeted Screening Improves TB Diagnosis in People with HIV in South Africa (AIDSmap)

On-Site HIV Testing from Traditional Healers Raises Diagnoses, Links to Care (Science Speaks Blog); related coverage from MedPage Today

HIV Prevention

Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP)

Islatravir Dosing for Once-Monthly and Annual PrEP (i-base); related coverage from AIDSmap, MedPage Today, Medscape, Poz, and TheBodyPro (section of summary article)

HPTN 083: Injectable PrEP Can Make Breakthrough Infections Hard to Detect (AIDSmap); related coverage from Healio

Getting PrEP to Key Populations Is Critical to Global Fight Against HIV (The Foundation for AIDS Research)

Large Numbers Now on Descovy PrEP in the United States (AIDSmap)

Clinicians Seldom Refer Black Partners of People with HIV for PrEP (Poz)

To Be Cost Effective, Injectable PrEP Can Only Cost About $3,000 more than U.S. Generic Oral PrEP (AIDSmap)

Efficacy of On-Demand PrEP vs. Daily PrEP: Virtually Indistinguishable (TheBodyPro – section of CROI summary article)

Social Networks Key to PrEP Uptake in Rural Kenya and Uganda (AIDSmap)

PrEP Does Not Lower Hormone Levels in Young Transgender People, But Lower PrEP Levels Seen in Some Transgender Women (AIDSmap)

Do HIV Drug Trials Need Better Infection Tests? (MedPage Today)

 

Preventive HIV Vaccines

mRNA Vaccine Protects Monkeys Against HIV-Like virus (AIDSmap)

HIV Care and Treatment

HIV Care Continuum

Dramatic Increase Seen in Getting HIV Patients into Treatment (MedPage Today); related coverage from Healio and TheBodyPro (section of summary article)

On-Site HIV Testing from Traditional Healers Raises Diagnoses, Links to Care (Science Speaks Blog); related coverage from MedPage Today

‘Amazon Prime’-Type ART Delivery Worked for South African HIV Patients (MedPage Today); related coverage from Healio

‘Resilient’ HIV Programmes in African Countries Have Maintained Viral Suppression During the COVID-19 Pandemic (AIDSmap)

Resistance Testing Does Not Improve Viral Suppression After First-Line Failure in South Africa and Uganda (AIDSmap)

New and Experimental Treatments

On the HIV Front, Special Interest in Long-Acting Drugs and New Ways to Get to Zero (TheBodyPro – section of CROI summary article)

Injectable HIV Medications Must Be Practical and Affordable, Conference Hears (AIDSmap)

Therapeutic Vaccine Shows Potential for HIV Control Off Treatment in Early Study (AIDSmap); related coverage from Healio and MedPage Today

Lenacapavir Shows Promise as Long-Acting HIV Treatment (Healio); related coverage from TheBodyPro (section of summary article)

Lenacapavir Linked to Significant Drop in Viral Load in Multidrug Resistant HIV (Medscape); related coverage from AIDSmap and MedPage Today

Maturation Inhibitor Shows Promise for HIV (MedPage Today); related coverage from i-base

Cabenuva Every Other Month Maintains Viral Suppression for Two Years (Poz)

Dosing for Once-Weekly Oral ART: Islatravir Plus MK-8507 Studies Due to Start in 2021 (i-base)

Four-Days-On, Three-Days-Off Treatment Regimen Still Looks Effective After Two Years (AIDSmap)

Treatment in Pregnant Women, Children, and Adolescents

Post-Partum Data Offer Further Evidence of Dolutegravir Safety (TheBodyPro – section of CROI summary article)

Dolutegravir Superior to Standard-of-Care Treatment in Children and Adolescents (AIDSmap); related coverage from MedPage Today

Another HIV Tivicay Birth Outcome: Better Infant Survival (Medscape)

Drug Interactions and Side Effects

Doubling the Dose of Hormonal Contraception Is a Safe and Effective Way of Overcoming Efavirenz Interaction (AIDSmap)

PrEP Does Not Lower Hormone Levels in Young Transgender People, But Lower PrEP Levels Seen in Some Transgender Women (AIDSmap)

What Are the Roles of TAF and Integrase Inhibitors in Weight Gain? (AIDSmap)

Alendronate Can Prevent Bone Loss in People Starting HIV Treatment (AIDSmap)

Women on HIV Treatment Face Higher Risk of Inflammation, Cardiovascular Disease (TheBodyPro – section of CROI summary article)

Other Treatment News

São Paulo Patient Experiences Apparent Viral Rebound a Year and a Half After Stopping HIV Treatment (AIDSmap)

African Study Confirms Dolutegravir for Second-Line Treatment and Supports Recycling of Tenofovir (AIDSmap); related coverage from Healio and i-base

HIV in Specific Population Groups

American Indians and Alaska Natives

HIV Diagnoses and Mortality Trends Among American Indians and Alaska Natives (TheBodyPro – section of CROI summary article)

Children and Youth

Pediatric HIV: Trial Sets Tivicay Backbone as Best First-Line Option (MedPage Today); related coverage from AIDSmap

Older Persons

By 2030, a Quarter of People Taking HIV Treatment in the U.S. Will Be Over 65 and Most Will Have Multiple Health Concerns (AIDSmap); related coverage from Poz and TheBodyPro (section of summary article)

Transgender Persons

Gender-Affirming Surgery and Viral Suppression Among Transgender People Living with HIV (TheBodyPro - section of CROI summary article); related coverage from AIDSmap and Poz

PrEP Does Not Lower Hormone Levels in Young Transgender People, But Lower PrEP Levels Seen in Some Transgender Women (AIDSmap)

Women

COVID-19 Impact in Pregnancy ‘Severe’ in Cohort of HIV-Positive South African Women (Healio)

HIV Not a Factor in COVID-19 Outcomes for Pregnant Women (TheBodyPro – section of CROI summary article)

Post-Partum Data Offer Further Evidence of Dolutegravir Safety (TheBodyPro – section of CROI summary article)

Women on HIV Treatment Face Higher Risk of Inflammation, Cardiovascular Disease (TheBodyPro – section of CROI summary article)

HIV Comorbidities

Cardiovascular Disease

Inflammation Predicts Vascular Disease in Treated HIV, with ‘Important’ Sex Differences (Healio)

Women on HIV Treatment Face Higher Risk of Inflammation, Cardiovascular Disease (TheBodyPro – section of CROI summary article)

COVID-19

HIV Not a Factor in COVID-19 Outcomes for Pregnant Women (TheBodyPro – section of CROI summary article); related coverage from MedPage Today

COVID-19 Hospitalization Risk Greater for People Living with HIV, Driven by Comorbidities (TheBodyPro – section of CROI summary article); related coverage from AIDSmap

Hepatitis

People with HIV and Hepatitis B Should Have Ongoing Monitoring for Liver Cancer (AIDSmap); related coverage from Poz

Mental Health

Depression, Anxiety and Loneliness Can Be Improved with Mindfulness Audio Lessons (AIDSmap)

Tuberculosis (TB)

Targeted Screening Improves TB Diagnosis in People with HIV in South Africa (AIDSmap)

4-Month TB Regimen Noninferior to 6-Month Regimen in People with HIV (Healio)

Are Long-Acting Injectables the Future of TB Treatment? (Medscape)

Pediatric TB – More Work Needed, Especially with HIV Coinfection (Medscape)

Multiple Comorbidities

By 2030, a Quarter of People Taking HIV Treatment in the U.S. Will Be Over 65 and Most Will Have Multiple Health Concerns (AIDSmap); related coverage from Poz and TheBodyPro (section of summary article)