Tipranavir: Phase II Study, 80-week Follow-up
A study presented at the 9th European AIDS Conference evaluated the durability of TPV-based therapy in PI-experienced patients. Patients were randomized to either low-dose or high-dose ritonavir-boosted (100mg) TPV, plus efavirenz and one new NRTI. After 16 weeks on therapy both dose groups achieved full viral suppression, which appears to be fully maintained in terms of log change in viral load at week 80: -2.43 log for high dose and -2.55 for low dose. Using on-treatment analysis, 90% on high dose and 43% on low dose had <50 copies/ml at week 80. In low-dose patients 90% had <50 copies/ml at week 48, but this fell to 43% at week 80. Using <400 copy test, 90% using high dose and 64% using low dose had undetectable VL. Median increases in CD4+ cell counts were +143 for high dose group and +175 for low dose group. Results indicate that TPV-based therapy can provide a durable response in the majority of PI-experienced patients.
Long-term 80-week follow-up of highly treatment-experienced (HTE) patients on tripranavir-based antiretroviral therapy. (BI 1182.2) Boehringer Ingleheim Pharmaceuticles, Inc. et al. 9th European AIDS Conference (EACS) October 2003.

Bristol-Myers-Squibb Announces $30 Million in Grants for Africa
BMS announced that it will allocate six new program grants totaling $30 million as part of the Secure the Future initiative to fight HIV/AIDS in Africa. The program focuses on funding programs at community and medical centers in Botswana, Nambia, Lesotho, Swaziland, and South Africa, the country most devastated by the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Secure the Future works to develop sustainable models in resource-limited settings for community-based initiatives, building internal resources and infrastructure and implementing modern science within a local context.
NATAP - www.natap.org

Trinity Biotech's Rapid HIV Test Gets U.S. Approval
Trinity Biotech has announced that Uni-Gold Recombigen, already in use in Africa, has been approved in the U.S. for the detection of antibodies to HIV in human serum, plasma or whole blood. The product requires only one step, produces a result within 10 minutes, and can be conducted in a doctor's office. Studies have shown that as many as 40% of those taking HIV tests do not return for their results. Rapid testing methods have the potential to increase the likelihood that those who are tested will receive their results.
NATAP ­ www.natap.org

Study: Oral Sex Not Linked to HIV Risk
In a ten-year couples study, a cohort of 135 HIV-negative (110 women and 25 men) Spanish heterosexuals in a sexual relationship with an HIV-positive partner were evaluated. Of the women, 96 had performed fellatio on their HIV-positive partner, giving an estimated total of 8,965 instances of unprotected fellatio, with ejaculation occurring in the mouth on an estimated 3,060 occasions (34%). Ninety-eight HIV-positive men carried out unprotected cunnilingus on their HIV-negative partner. Among the 25 HIV-negative men with a positive partner, 12 had unprotected cunnilingus, with an estimated 614 total number of episodes. Twenty-four of the 25 men had passive fellatio, with a total of 1,081 instances of fellatio without a condom performed by the HIV-positive partner. In this study, over 19,000 instances of unprotected oral sex did not lead to a single case of HIV transmission. This data adds to the growing number of studies that suggest a significantly lower risk of HIV transmission from oral sex as compared to anal or vaginal intercourse. It is speculated that certain factors may increase the risk of transmitting HIV via oral sex, such as the HIV-positive person having a high viral load, the HIV-infected person ejaculating into the mouth of their partner, the presence of another sexually transmitted disease, and poor oral health. Although the authors concluded that study results point to a very low probability of HIV transmission related to oral sex, other STDs such as syphilis and gonorrhea can be easily transmitted in this manner.
Romero J et al. Evaluating the risk of HIV transmission through unprotected orogenital sex. AIDS 16:9 1269-97, 2002.

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