Search Abstracts

Background Doravirine (DOR), an NNRTI, and islatravir (ISL), an investigational nucleoside reverse transcriptase translocation inhibitor, have complementary mechanisms of action and resistance profiles. MK-8591A-052 is an ongoing phase 3 study evaluating the efficacy and safety of switching from bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide (BIC/FTC/TAF) to DOR/ISL (100/0.25 mg), a once-daily single-tablet regimen. Declines in CD4 T-cell and lymphocyte counts…

Background Doravirine (DOR), a NNRTI, and islatravir (ISL), an investigational nucleoside reverse transcriptase translocation inhibitor, have complementary mechanisms of action and resistance profiles. MK-8591A-051 is a phase 3 study evaluating the efficacy and safety of switching from oral ART to DOR/ISL (100/0.25 mg), a once-daily single-tablet regimen. Declines in CD4 and total lymphocyte counts were…

Background Ensitrelvir is an oral SARS-CoV-2 3CL protease inhibitor, approved in Japan for the treatment of mild-moderate COVID-19. No approved antivirals have been proven efficacious as post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) in household contacts (HHC) of index patients (IP) with COVID-19. Methods SCORPIO-PEP was a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in HHC of IP with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 conducted in…

Background VH3810109 (N6LS) is a broadly neutralizing CD4-binding site antibody being developed for long-acting HIV-1 therapy. N6LS was well tolerated and efficacious in participants with HIV-1 naive to treatment when administered intravenously (IV) or subcutaneously (SC) in the proof-of-concept phase 2a BANNER study. In the phase 1 SPAN study, single-dose N6LS given IV (60 mg/kg)…

Background Mpox has caused two international public health emergencies; no therapies have established efficacy. ACTG A5418/STOMP is a phase 3 randomized placebo-controlled double-blind trial evaluating the efficacy of tecovirimat, an antiviral with animal data supporting its use for orthopox infections.  Methods Participants ≥18 years with symptomatic laboratory-confirmed or presumptive mpox <14 days were randomized 2:1…

Background A5379 primary analysis demonstrated that 2- and 3-dose HepB-CpG (2-CpG, 3-CpG) achieved superior seroprotective response (SPR defined as anti-HBs ≥10 mIU/mL) compared to 3-dose HepB-alum (3-alum) in PWH with prior HBV vaccine non-response (Group A), and 100% SPR was achieved with 3-CpG in vaccine-naïve PWH (Group B). SPR durability is now evaluated. Methods A5379…

Background UNAIDS estimates, derived by fitting mathematical models to national surveillance data, indicate that HIV incidence in sub-Saharan Africa has declined substantially since 2000. We assessed whether the level and age distribution of HIV incidence from mathematical-model derived estimates, which are critical to guide epidemic response strategies, are consistent with empirical HIV incidence observations. Methods…

Background Men’s suboptimal HIV treatment outcomes hinder epidemic control efforts and jeopardize men’s health. Interventions tailored to men’s unique needs are essential, although rarely tested. We tested the effect of person-centered care interventions on ART engagement among men living with HIV but not in care in Malawi. Methods We conducted an individually randomized control trial…

Background The Africa CDC and the WHO declared Mpox a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security and of International Concern respectively. The first Mpox-positive cases in Uganda were reported in July 2024 from Kasese District, Bwera Hospital by the Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI) and MRC/UVRI & LSHTM Uganda Research Unit. In light of ongoing Mpox…

Background High blood pressure (≥90mmHg/140mmHg) is associated with ~35% of sub-Saharan Africa deaths. In Mozambique, 3% of hypertensive adults achieve controlled blood pressure (BP). Systems engineering strategies applied at the health facility level, like the Systems Analysis and Improvement Approach (SAIA), have been shown effective in improving quality and continuity of health service delivery in…