Highlights from Opening Day of AIDS 2022

Yesterday, as the 24th International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2022) opened, HIV.gov spoke with the White House’s Harold Phillips, NIH’s Dr. Carl Dieffenbach, and HHS’s Loyce Pace about their reactions to some of the new research presented and other important conference developments. The studies that caught their attention include one on long-acting injectable HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and another on disparities in PrEP access. They also spoke about the importance of bi-directional partnerships between the U.S. and global responses. Check out these and other highlights in this day one conference re-cap video:

Improving the Response to HIV: Bidirectional Partnerships

Loyce Pace, MPH, Assistant Secretary for Global Affairs, HHS, discussed the importance of addressing the HIV epidemic through collaborative partnerships that can teach us what we can be doing differently and better both in our domestic and global responses to HIV. Bidirectional partnerships, she noted, can help ensure that the innovation needed includes equity and access. Assistant Secretary Pace also reflected on the varied impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on this collaborative global response to HIV, especially on historically marginalized and vulnerable communities that experience a disproportionate burden of HIV. She also recognized the resilience of the PEPFAR program, communities, and healthcare providers despite these challenges.  View our full conversation with Assistant Secretary PaceExit Disclaimer.

Research Highlights: Long-acting Injectable HIV PrEP & STI Post-Exposure Prophylaxis

Carl Dieffenbach, PhD, Director of the Division of AIDS at NIH’s National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, began by remarking on the enthusiasm evident among the HIV stakeholders gathered in person for the first time for this conference since 2018. He highlighted NIH-supported studies discussed at the conference that provided further evidence of the effectiveness of long-acting injectable cabotegravir for HIV PrEP among cisgender women, transgender women, men who have sex with men. He noted that this new PrEP option will give people choices, some may prefer a daily pill and others the long-acting injectable. Dr. Dieffenbach also highlighted new findings from a study demonstrating the effectiveness of doxycycline as post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) among men who have sex with men in both men living with HIV and men using PrEP. He also shared that he’s looking forward to studies to be presented at the conference about experimental medicine trials that could inform the future of HIV vaccine research. View our full research highlights discussion with Dr. DieffenbachExit Disclaimer.

ONAP Director Phillips Shares His Thoughts on Highlights

Harold J. Phillips, MRP, Director, the White House Office of National AIDS Policy, discussed the importance of the conference theme of recommitting to ending the HIV epidemic and highlighted the importance of doing so with an emphasis on equity in the U.S. and around the world. He praised the ongoing work across the U.S. government to share bidirectional lessons across programs and between countries. Director Phillips discussed a new analysisExit Disclaimer presented at the conference showing significant inequities in PrEP use among Black and Hispanic Americans and across regions. He noted that President Biden’s proposed national PrEP program could help address these disparities. View our full conversation with Mr. PhillipsExit Disclaimer.

Also at the Conference

We caught up on Instagram with Demetre DaskalakisExit Disclaimer, MD, MPH, Director of CDC’s Division of HIV Prevention, about what grabbed his attention. He highlighted the doxy PEP study that Dr. Dieffenbach discussed and also he shared his perspective on the PrEP disparities study that Mr. Phillips highlighted. 

HIV.gov at AIDS 2022

AIDS 2022Exit Disclaimer is taking place in Montreal, Canada, and virtually from July 29 to August 2, 2022. It’s the world’s largest conference on HIV and AIDS, bringing together thousands of researchers, policymakers, program implementers, advocates, and others to present and discuss the latest HIV research, move research into action, share innovative programs and practices, and strengthen local, national, and global efforts to end the HIV epidemic. Continue following HIV.gov for daily conference highlights on our blog and on TwitterExit Disclaimer, FacebookExit Disclaimer, and InstagramExit Disclaimer. You can also catch up on all our video conversations from the conference on our YouTube channelExit Disclaimer.