Please Note: This web page has links to many articles, fact sheets, and other materials arising from the 2016 International AIDS Conference (IAC), held on July 18 through 22, 2016 in Durban, South Africa.
The materials have been grouped into the topic areas listed below. When more than one media outlet has covered a particular research study or conference development, we have generally provided the full title and hyperlink for one summary, followed by links to related coverage from other sources.
We hope that this structure highlights the main themes and news from the 2016 IAC, helps you find the stories of greatest interest to you, and makes it easier to explore topics in depth.
Conference Overview and Highlights
International AIDS Conference Website:
AIDS 2016 – This is the official website for the 2016 IAC. It includes an online conference program; daily reviews of conference developments; a media center with press releases from the IAC and third parties; and general conference videos and selected speeches. Of particular interest are the site’s rapporteur summaries – detailed daily reports of major findings and discussions – for the main tracks of AIDS 2016:
- Track A: Basic and Translational Research
- Track B: Clinical Research
- Track C: Epidemiology and Prevention
- Track D: Social and Political Research, Law, Policy, and Human Rights
- Track E: Implementation Research, Economics, Systems, and Synergies with other Health and Development Sectors
Sites Offering Free Continuing Medical Education (CME) Credit:
Note: Registration may be required to access educational materials.
Other Articles and Web Sites with Conference Highlights:
- Five Takeaways from the 21st International AIDS Conference. (August 2016, NASTAD Blog)
- Really Rapid Review — AIDS 2016, Durban (Journal Watch)
- The 2016 International AIDS Conference Closes with a Call to Reject Complacency in the AIDS Response. (UNAIDS)
Blog.AIDS.gov:
- We’re Stronger When We Work Together: Dr. Wolitski Shares Closing Thoughts From AIDS 2016
- White House’s Dr. Lansky Shares Perspectives from AIDS 2016
- NIH’s Dr. Dieffenbach Shares Final Update from AIDS 2016
- USAID’s David Stanton from AIDS 2016
- Elton John AIDS Foundation and PEPFAR Announce Inaugural LGBT Fund Recipients
- CDC’s Drs. Hader and McCray Discuss Developments from AIDS 2016
- HIV Vaccine Research: Update from NIH’s Dr. Dieffenbach from 2nd Day of AIDS 2016
- HRSA’s Macrae and Robinson Discuss What Has Struck Them at AIDS 2016
- Dr. Fauci and Dr. Wolitski Discuss Highlights of AIDS 2016
- Peace Corps’ Marie McLeod Shares Perspective from AIDS 2016
- NIH’s Dr. Dieffenbach Shares Perspectives from First Day of AIDS 2016
- PEPFAR Welcomes the Return of the International HIV/AIDS Conference to Africa
- PEPFAR and DREAMS Partners Announce Winners of the $85 Million DREAMS Innovation Challenge
AVAC Blog:
- Where did Durban leave HIV prevention?
- Plants, PrEP Posters and People: The Research Literacy Networking Zone at AIDS 2016
- Prevention, Treatment and Human Rights
- Additional Reflections from Durban
- Reflections from Durban: Day 6 at AIDS 2016
- Respect the Data, Respect the People: Day 5 at AIDS 2016
- I Bleed, I Rise: Day 4 at AIDS 2016
- The Vagina Dialogues: Day 3 at AIDS 2016
- Long Waits and Long Queues: Hurry Up! – Day 2 at AIDS 2016
- Magical Thinking and Surge Pricing: AIDS 2016 Update — Day 1
- Prevention Must be at the Forefront to Meet Global HIV Goals
The Global HIV/AIDS Epidemic
General Information:
- Global HIV deaths declining, but incidence rates remain stagnant. (Healio)
- WHO Flags Key Challenges to Global HIV Response at International AIDS Conference. (World Health Organization)
- PEPFAR, partners award $85 million to 56 entities to reduce HIV. (Healio)
- Data tells “good, bad, and ugly news” of HIV death rates in east and southern Africa. (Science Speaks Blog)
- Opening talks celebrate early pivotal action, and those who carry on. (Science Speaks Blog)
- As the largest generation in history approaches greatest HIV risks, Gates discusses the magnitude of the work ahead. (Science Speaks Blog)
Ending the Epidemic (“Getting to Zero”):
- Gains in curbing HIV epidemic could be lost without continued commitment, AIDS 2016 speakers say. (AIDSmap)
- Fund decline, incidence rise present clear, current threats to HIV services, research, “ending AIDS,” response watchers say. (Science Speaks Blog)
- Progress towards 90-90-90 targets is promising, but funding is the critical step, says UNAIDS leader. (AIDSmap)
- More Prevention Resources Needed to Meet UNAIDS Goals. (TheBodyPro)
- SEARCH study exceeds 90-90-90 targets after 2 years of ‘test and treat’ for HIV in rural East Africa. (AIDSmap); related coverage from Science Speaks Blog
- New strategy aims to end AIDS in children by 2020. (AIDSmap)
- With 20 Billion Condoms and 3 Million People on PrEP, Could We Reach the UNAIDS HIV Prevention Goal in 5 Years? (Beta Blog)
- Young People’s Leadership in Ending AIDS and Achieving Universal and Reproductive Sexual Health Rights by 2030. (Global Forum on MSM and HIV)
- Progress towards 90-90-90 targets in southern Africa: find the men! (AIDSmap); related coverage from MedPage Today
- Far fewer people drop out of HIV care in South Africa than previously thought. (AIDSmap)
- Australia adopts ambitious plan to use PrEP to ‘virtually eliminate’ HIV by 2020. (AIDSmap)
HIV Prevention and Transmission (including PrEP and Microbicides)
For information on HIV Treatment as Prevention, please see the HIV Treatment section below.
Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP):
- With 20 Billion Condoms and 3 Million People on PrEP, Could We Reach the UNAIDS HIV Prevention Goal in 5 Years? (Beta Blog)
- PrEP use exceeds 79,000 in U.S. pharmacy survey, but some groups lagging behind. (AIDSmap); related coverage from Beta Blog and Poz
- What we’re learning about new PrEP drugs and delivery methods at AIDS 2016. (Beta Blog)
- PrEP researchers now focusing on the best ways to get PrEP to people who need it. (AIDSmap)
- PrEP can further reduce the risk of HIV infection after a partner starts treatment. (AIDSmap); related coverage from Science Speaks Blog and Beta Blog
- No Condoms, No Problems in PrEP Study. (Healio)
- What Determines Higher PrEP Adherence Among Black Gay and Bi Men? (Poz)
- No More Lip Service: A Demand for PrEP Access from the Transgender Community. (Global Forum on MSM and HIV)
- Gay Men at AIDS 2016 Talk PrEP, Chem Sex and Drug Smuggling. (TheBodyPro)
- Young Gay Teens Do Well On PrEP — But They Need More Support. (Beta Blog); related coverage from MedPage Today
- Sex Workers Speak Out: “I Feel Sexier Now That I’m Taking PrEP.” (Beta Blog)
- PrEP rollout recipients in France top 1000: full trial results report 97% effectiveness. (AIDSmap)
- Bone loss partially recovers after stopping PrEP, twice-yearly kidney monitoring is enough for most. (AIDSmap)
- Nanoparticles containing dolutegravir demonstrate efficacy for PrEP delivery. (Healio)
Microbicides:
- High Adherence to Vaginal Ring Reduced HIV Risk Considerably. (Poz); related coverage from TheBodyPro
- HIV Prevention Ring for Women More Than 75% Effective, New Analyses Show. (Beta Blog); related coverage from MedPage Today
Other Prevention and Transmission News:
- Gay Dating Apps Join HIV Prevention and Treatment Education Efforts. (August 2016, TheBodyPro)
- Gay and Bisexual Teen Males No More Likely than Heterosexual Teen Males to Engage in Several Sexual Risk Behaviors. (CDC)
- While drop in medical circumcisions raises concerns, study shows impacts of targeted approaches for the HIV prevention measure. (Science Speaks Blog)
- Next Up – Country-Specific HIV Vaccines. (TheBodyPro)
- Injectables and Implantables Are Next Generation of HIV Prevention. (TheBodyPro)
- It’s all go for a new HIV vaccine efficacy trial this year. (AIDSmap); related coverage from MedPage Today and Healio
HIV Treatment Cascade/Continuum of Care (including HIV Testing and Access to Care)
Continuum of Care (General):
- Women with HIV have higher risk of loss to follow-up and death after delivery (AIDSmap)
- Four fast-track cities announce 90-90-90 data on HIV/AIDS. (Healio)
- Starting treatment on the day of HIV diagnosis improves retention and viral suppression, Haiti study shows. (AIDSmap)
- HIV Test-and-Treat: A Tricky Issue. (MedPage Today)
- ‘Test and treat’: large study fails to show an impact on new HIV infections. (AIDSmap)
- Comprehensive services for sex workers reduce detectable viral load, but enhanced ARV services provide no extra benefit. (AIDSmap)
- Program Raises HIV Viral Suppression Levels in African Communities Above U.N. Targets. (Poz)
- Reducing clinic visits can support retention in HIV care, African studies show. (AIDSmap)
- Adherence Clubs Promote Retention, HIV Control in Randomized Johannesburg Trial. (TheBodyPro)
- Phone and home visit follow-up and appointment trackersimprove retention in HIV care for pregnant women and new mothers. (AIDSmap)
- Viral load pilot study shows roll-out will depend on an educated workforce. (AIDSmap)
HIV Testing:
- Market constraints and uncertainties may limit the scale-up of HIV self-testing. (AIDSmap)
- World’s largest study of HIV self-testing gets off the ground. (AIDSmap)
- Access to HIV home tests doubles the frequency of HIV testing in Australian gay men. (AIDSmap)
Access to Care:
- Plenary talk proposes $90, $90, $90 as cost of HIV and viral hepatitis drugs. (Science Speaks Blog)
- HIV Drug Pricing Protest Interrupts PrEP Session at AIDS 2016. (Beta Blog)
- AIDS 2016: Inside the Massive HIV Treatment Access March. (TheBodyPro)
- Medicines? Check! People to deliver them? Not so much. (Science Speaks Blog)
HIV Treatment
Impacts of Early Treatment and HIV Treatment as Prevention:
- Earlier HIV treatment is not over-burdening health services. (AIDSmap)
- Starting treatment on the day of HIV diagnosis improves retention and viral suppression, Haiti study shows. (AIDSmap)
- Young women treated in very early HIV infection stay HIV negative and preserve immune function. (AIDSmap); related coverage from Poz and MedPage Today
- ‘Test and treat’: large study fails to show an impact on new HIV infections. (AIDSmap)
- HIV Test-and-Treat: A Tricky Issue. (MedPage Today)
- More confidence on zero risk: still no transmissions seen from people with an undetectable viral load in PARTNER study. (AIDSmap); related coverage from MedPage Today, Science Speaks Blog, Poz, and Beta Blog
- PrEP can further reduce the risk of HIV infection after a partner starts treatment. (AIDSmap); related coverage from Beta Blog
New HIV Drugs and Treatment Strategies:
- Most Study Participants Were Satisfied with a New Long-Acting Injectable HIV Regimen. (September 2016, TheBodyPro)
- Experimental Therapy Fails to Stop Viral Rebound Post-HIV Treatment Interruption. (Poz)
- Immune-Enhancing Treatment May Destabilize HIV Reservoirs. (NIH)
- Long-acting injectable drugs work well for HIV maintenance therapy. (AIDSmap); related coverage from Beta Blog
- Monthly Dosing Drug Raises Hopes and Concerns. (MedPage Today)
- What we’re learning about new PrEP drugs and delivery methods at AIDS 2016. (Beta Blog)
Other HIV Treatment News:
- What Do Vitamin D Levels at HIV Treatment Initiation Have to Do With CD4 Cell Count Recovery? (August 2016, TheBodyPro)
- Pediatric HIV Cure Studied in Infant Monkeys. (TheBodyPro)
- HIV Cure Research Strategies. (TheBodyPro)
- Searching for the next ‘Berlin patient’: doctors document bone-marrow recipients with HIV. (AIDSmap)
- Studies examine switch to TAF-based regimens in patients with renal impairment. (Healio)
- Dolutegravir plus lamivudine dual therapy works well as initial HIV treatment. (AIDSmap); related coverage from MedPage Today
- Dolutegravir Superior in Women-Only Study. (TheBodyPro)
- Complera Non-inferior to Atripla. (MedPage Today)
- No Increased Resistance With Once-Daily Dosing of Abacavir and 3TC Than Twice-Daily Dosing in the ARROW Trial. (HIV i-Base)
- Early HIV treatment: mothers say they need time to think. (AIDSmap)
- For Women with HIV, Triumeq Is Superior to Norvir–Boosted Reyataz Plus Truvada. (Poz); related coverage from Healio
- Daily Raltegravir Matches Twice Daily Efficacy. (MedPage Today); related coverage from AIDSmap
- Statin decreases arterial inflammation, immune activation in patients with HIV. (Healio)
Affected Population Groups
Adolescents:
- Is The Global HIV Movement Keeping Up With Young People? (Poz)
- As the largest generation in history approaches greatest HIV risks, Gates discusses the magnitude of the work ahead. (Science Speaks Blog)
- Jumping Hurdles with Adolescents: We Need More Than Just an HIV Test. (Global Forum on MSM and HIV)
- Young People’s Leadership in Ending AIDS and Achieving Universal and Reproductive Sexual Health Rights by 2030. (Global Forum on MSM and HIV)
- HIV treatment programmes need to prepare for the ‘youth bulge’, South African experience shows. (AIDSmap)
- Young gay men can do well on PrEP, but may need more support. (AIDSmap)
- Gay and Bisexual Teen Males No More Likely than Heterosexual Teen Males to Engage in Several Sexual Risk Behaviors. (CDC)
- Young Gay Teens Do Well On PrEP — But They Need More Support. (Beta Blog); related coverage from MedPage Today
Immigrants and Refugees:
- Strong association between sexual violence and African women acquiring HIV in Europe. (AIDSmap)
- We All Want to “Go Home.” (Global Forum on MSM and HIV)
LGBT:
- Community-Based Participatory Research: Addressing Ethics, Empowerment and HIV Health Disparities. (September 2016, TheBodyPro)
- Gay Dating Apps Join HIV Prevention and Treatment Education Efforts. (August 2016, TheBodyPro)
- Political Will to Leave Key Populations Behind. (Global Forum on MSM and HIV)
- Reducing stigma against gender and sexual minorities, a one-day training makes a difference. (Science Speaks Blog)
- A preconference event highlights rights, demands, and continued neglect of gay and bisexual men in global HIV response. (Science Speaks Blog)
- Gay, bisexual adolescent males face greater risk for HIV. (Healio)
- Elton John, PEPFAR announce first recipients of joint fund supporting sexual minority access to HIV services. (Science Speaks Blog)
- No More Lip Service: A Demand for PrEP Access from the Transgender Community. (Global Forum on MSM and HIV)
- Gay and Bisexual Teen Males No More Likely than Heterosexual Teen Males to Engage in Several Sexual Risk Behaviors. (CDC)
- HIV Epidemics Among Gays and Drug Users Are Less Likely to Get U.S. Aid. (Poz)
- Gay Men at AIDS 2016 Talk PrEP, Chem Sex and Drug Smuggling. (TheBodyPro)
- Young gay men can do well on PrEP, but may need more support. (AIDSmap)
Older Adults:
- Taking a Closer Look at Cancer Treatment Rates Among Elderly Adults Living with HIV. (August 2016, TheBodyPro)
Persons Who Inject Drugs:
- The War on Drugs Fuels the Spread of HIV, Hepatitis C and Tuberculosis. (Poz)
- HIV Epidemics Among Gays and Drug Users Are Less Likely to Get U.S. Aid. (Poz)
Sex Workers:
- Comprehensive services for sex workers reduce detectable viral load, but enhanced ARV services provide no extra benefit. (AIDSmap)
- Sex Workers Speak Out: “I Feel Sexier Now That I’m Taking PrEP.” (Beta Blog)
- Targeted care program improves engagement, HIV suppression in female sex workers. (Healio)
Women:
- HIV and Infertility: An Assessment Tool for Use in Low-Resource Clinics. (September 2016, TheBodyPro)
- Women with HIV have higher risk of loss to follow-up and death after delivery (AIDSmap)
- Phone and home visit follow-up and appointment trackers improve retention in HIV care for pregnant women and new mothers. (AIDSmap)
- Postpartum Treatment Reduces HIV Complications. (MedPage Today)
- Women-Only Trial Boosts HIV Combo. (MedPage Today)
- Dolutegravir Superior in Women-Only Study. (TheBodyPro)
- Early HIV treatment: mothers say they need time to think. (AIDSmap)
- Young women treated in very early HIV infection stay HIV negative and preserve immune function. (AIDSmap); related coverage from Poz, Healio, and MedPage Today
Stigma and Discrimination
- Video and Written Reports for ‘Beyond Blame: Challenging HIV Criminalization’ at AIDS 2016 Now Available. (September 2016, HIV Justice Network)
- A preconference event highlights rights, demands, and continued neglect of gay and bisexual men in global HIV response. (Science Speaks Blog)
- Global advocacy highlights against HIV criminalisation presented at AIDS 2016. (HIV Justice Network)
- HIV criminalisation on the rise, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. (AIDSmap)
- Stigma persists in the undetectable era. (AIDSmap)
- Shame-Less: Stigma Interventions That Work. (Global Forum on MSM and HIV)
Other Infectious Diseases
Hepatitis C:
- The Future of Hepatitis C Treatment. (September 2016, TheBodyPro)
- The War on Drugs Fuels the Spread of HIV, Hepatitis C and Tuberculosis. (Poz)
- HCV not associated with increase in HIV viral load among adults with HIV. (Healio)
- Sofosbuvir/velpatasvir shows high cure rate in HIV/HCV co-infection study. (AIDSmap); related coverage from Poz
Tuberculosis:
- TB preconference highlights response stymied by neglect of patient needs and research funding deficits. (Science Speaks Blog); related coverage from AIDSmap
- TB vaccine development in the 21st century takes new approaches. (Science Speaks Blog)
- The War on Drugs Fuels the Spread of HIV, Hepatitis C and Tuberculosis. (Poz)
- Daily TB Treatment Better Than Intermittent. (MedPage Today)
- High-dose rifampicin for TB treatment regimen may improve survival in people with low CD4 cell counts. (AIDSmap)
- Shortened regimen for MDR-TB shows good results for children. (AIDSmap)
- Trial shows higher dose rifampicin could reduce deaths among TB/HIV patients who are severely immunosuppressed. (Science Speaks Blog)
