New Population Council research on promising new HIV and STI prevention tools and strategies for reaching key populations at high risk for HIV will be presented at the second biennial HIV Research for Prevention Conference (HIVR4P 2016) in Chicago. HIVR4P 2016, which runs 17–21 October, is the only global scientific meeting dedicated exclusively to biomedical HIV prevention research.
Population Council researchers will present new data from several studies demonstrating the activity, safety, acceptability and potential efficacy of vaginal gels containing griffithsin and a griffithsin/carrageenan formulation to prevent HIV, herpes simplex virus (HSV-2) and human papilloma virus (HPV). Griffithsin, one of the most potent anti-HIV agents described in the literature to date, is a naturally-occurring algae-derived protein that inhibits HIV and other pathogens, including HSV-2. Council experts will present promising new data demonstrating that griffithsin/carrageenan combination gel inhibits HIV in macaques (P07.18), as well as in human vaginal fluids (P07.17) and cervical mucosa (P07.19).
The Council will also present new research on another HIV multipurpose prevention product, PC-1005. The Council’s PC-1005 is the only product designed to prevent HIV, HPV and HSV simultaneously to have undergone a Phase 1 study to date. Results show that PC-1005 was generally safe and well-tolerated when used as a vaginal gel once daily for up to 14 days (P07.34). The Population Council is working with the Microbicide Trials Network (MTN) on plans to test PC-1005 as a rectal use in a Phase I study in the U.S.
Other Council studies featured at HIVR4P 2016 include:
- Approaches to measuring adherence among women in studies of vaginal rings for HIV prevention, conducted through the International Partnership for Microbicides’ ASPIRE vaginal ring study (OA20.02)
- The uptake of HIV testing and use of other prevention strategies among MSM in sub-Saharan Africa (P09.22) (P09.23)
- The potential impact of home-based HIV testing and counseling on efforts to achieve the UNAIDS 90-90-90 targets, conducted as part of the USAID-funded, Population Council-led HIVCore project (P15.11)
Council researchers contributed to additional studies presented at HIV R4P, from a collaboration with industry partner ProMed Pharma to develop innovative new vaginal rings that may make STI prevention more acceptable and effective for women (OA12.03), to analyses with the Microbicides Trials Network (MTN) of women’s motivations to participation in HIV prevention trials (P02.02), and their perceptions of vaginal rings as potential new HIV prevention strategies (P24.03).
The Council is hosting a pre-conference satellite session, “Non-human Primate Models for HIV and Other STIs Prevention” on Monday, 17 October. The program brings together experts from across the HIV research field to examine the centrality of non-human primates to modeling susceptibility to and the infection and pathogenesis processes of STIs including HIV, as well as to the development of prophylactic and therapeutic interventions. Speakers include:
- Elena Martinelli, Population Council
- Walid Heneine, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Nina Derby, Population Council
- Dorothy Patton, University of Washington
- Natalia Teleshova, Population Council;
- Jeffrey Lifson, National Institutes of Health
- Dan Barouch, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
- Janet McNichol, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
“The range of Population Council studies presented at HIV R4P illustrates our "bench to bedside” approach, which addresses the entire product development lifecycle,” said James Sailer, vice president and executive director of the Population Council’s Center for Biomedical Research (CBR), which develops new methods of contraception, HIV prevention and STI prevention. “Our comprehensive approach extends from basic research on new prevention approaches, through clinical testing and behavioral research focused on adherence and user needs, to the introduction and thoughtful scale-up of effective technologies once they become available. We are honored to share this research at such an important global gathering.”
Key presentations led or supported by Population Council researchers at HIVR4P 2016 include:
MONDAY, 17 OCTOBER
>> Satellite Sessions
Non-human Primate Models for HIV and Other STIs Prevention
12:00 –3:00 pm, Sheraton Ballroom II
Chairs: Elena Martinelli, Population Council, Janet McNichol, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Panel: Walid Heneine, CDC; Nina Derby, Population Council; Dorothy Patton, University of Washington; Natalia Teleshova, Population Council; Jeffrey Lifson, National Institutes of Health; Dan Barouch, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
TUESDAY, 18 OCTOBER
>> Poster Sessions
P01.35LB
Comparative Assessment of the Potency and Breadth of Activity of Griffithsin and Broad Neutralizing Antibodies Against HIV
6:00 – 7:30 p.m., River Exhibit AB
Presenter: José A. Fernández-Romero, Population Council
P07.17
Pharmacodynamics of Griffithsin after Vaginal Application of a Gel or Intravaginal Ring in Macaques
6:00 – 7:30 p.m., River Exhibit AB
Presenter: Natalia Teleshova, Population Council
P07.19
Griffithsin/Carrageenan Gel Inhibits HIV and HSV-2 in Human Cervical Mucosa
6:00 – 7:30 p.m., River Exhibit AB
Presenter: Natalia Teleshova, Population Council
P08.17LB
Preclinical Evaluation of a Griffithsin/Carrageenan Formulation to Prevent HIV Infection
6:00 – 7:30 p.m., River Exhibit AB
Presenter: José A. Fernández-Romero
P09.23
Exploring Female Condom Use for Anal Sex among the Receptive Men Who Have Sex with Men in Benue State, Nigeria
6:00 – 7:30 p.m., River Exhibit AB
Presenter: Toyese Akinade, Population Council
P15.11
Using Home-based HIV Testing and Counseling to Contribute to the UNAIDS 90-90-90 Target in Uganda: Retrospective Review of 2005-2011 Data
6:00 – 7:30 p.m., River Exhibit AB
Presenter: Livingstone Ssali, The AIDS Support Organisation; co-authors, Sam Kalibala and Francis Obore Onyango, HIVCore/Population Council
P24.03
Are Ring Worries Affecting Use? Findings from the MTN-020/ASPIRE Phase III Dapivirine Ring Trial
6:00 – 7:30 p.m., River Exhibit AB
Presenter: Ariane van der Straten, Women's Global Health Imperative, RTI International; co-author, Barbara Mensch, Population Council
WEDNESDAY, 19 OCTOBER
>> Oral Sessions
OA12.03
Foamed Silicone Intravaginal Rings for Delivery of Macromolecular Therapeutics
10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., Chicago Ballroom VIII-X
Presenter: Matthew Petersen, ProMed Pharma; co-author, Tom Zydowsky, Population Council
>> Poster Sessions
P02.02
“Striving and Hoping” – Women’s Motivations to Join an HIV Prevention Clinical Trial: Narratives from the VOICE-D Study
6:00 – 7:30 p.m., River Exhibit AB
Presenter: Ariana Katz, Women's Global Health Imperative, RTI International; co-author, Barbara Mensch, Population Council
P07.18
Safety of Griffithsin-containing Vaginal Gels in Rhesus Macaques
6:00 – 7:30 p.m., River Exhibit AB
Presenter: Natalia Teleshova, Population Council
P07.34
Preclinical Safety and Stability Assessment of a Dual Compartment Microbicide Gel Targeting Multiple Viral Sexually Transmitted Infections
6:00 – 7:30 p.m., River Exhibit AB
Presenter: José A. Fernández-Romero
P07.46LB
A Convenient, Self-administered Microbicide Fast-dissolving Insert as Pre-exposure Prophylaxis for HIV Prevention
6:00 – 7:30 p.m., River Exhibit AB
Presenter: Manjari Lal, PATH; co-authors, José A. Fernández-Romero, Tom Zydowsky, Keith Levendosky, Population Council
P08.18LB
Toxicology Profile of a Topical Multipurpose Prevention Technology that Combines Griffithsin and Carrageenan
6:00 – 7:30 p.m., River Exhibit AB
Presenter: José A. Fernández-Romero
P09.22
Promoting HIV Testing Uptake among Men Who Have Sex with Men: A Comparative Study on Access to HIV Testing Services in Benue State, Nigeria
6:00 – 7:30 p.m., River Exhibit AB
Presenter: Toyese Akinade, Population Council
P18.12
Inhibition of a4 b7 Activation May be Necessary to Reduce Susceptibility to SIV: Differential Effect of an Agonist and an Allosteric Inhibitor
6:00 – 7:30 p.m., River Exhibit AB
Presenter: Elena Martinelli, Population Council
>> Advocacy Corner
An introduction to the Council’s Share.Learn.Shape survey, a women’s health survey to inform HIV prevention strategies
6:30 – 7:30 p.m., Advocacy Corner
Presenter: Barbara Friedland
THURSDAY, 20 OCTOBER
>> Oral Sessions
OA20.02
Vaginal Ring Use in a Phase 3 Microbicide Trial: A Comparison of an Objective Measure of Adherence in ASPIRE with Self-reports of Product Use
10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., Chicago Ballroom, VIII-X
Presenter: Barbara Mensch, Population Council
OA23.02
The Impact of a Randomized Evaluation of a Girls’ Empowerment Program on HSV-2 and HIV Acquisition among Vulnerable Adolescent Girls in Zambia
1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m., Chicago Ballroom VI-VII
Presenter: Paul Hewett, Population Council
Media Contact:
Kevin Short, kshort@popcouncil.org, 1-(212)-339-0509