Early HIV Treatment Might Have Prompted Remission In Second Infant, Researchers Report At CROI

Media sources report on findings reported this week at the Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections, taking place this week in Boston. Researchers reported on another case of possible HIV remission in an infant and several other study findings.

Associated Press: Doctors hope for cure in a 2nd baby born with HIV
“A second baby born with the AIDS virus may have had her infection put into remission and possibly cured by very early treatment — in this instance, four hours after birth…” (Marchione, 3/5).

New York Times: Early Treatment Is Found to Clear HIV in a 2nd Baby
“When scientists made the stunning announcement last year that a baby born with HIV had apparently been cured through aggressive drug treatment just 30 hours after birth, there was immediate skepticism that the child had been infected in the first place. But on Wednesday, the existence of a second such baby was revealed at an AIDS conference here, leaving little doubt that the treatment works. A leading researcher said there might be five more such cases in Canada and three in South Africa…” (McNeil, 3/5).

Reuters: Nine-month-old baby may have been cured of HIV, U.S. scientists say
“…That child is still receiving a three-drug cocktail of anti-AIDS treatments, while the child born in Mississippi, now 3-1/2 years old, ceased receiving antiretroviral treatments two years ago…” (Malone, 3/5).

Science Speaks: CROI 2014: With ‘Mississippi Baby’ update, news of another infant, case for early intensive HIV treatment progresses
“…Trials in which newborns will receive intensive treatment within the first 48 hours of life will follow, [Deborah Persaud, a pediatrics specialist with the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine,] said, through the IMPAACT (International Maternal, Pediatric, Adolescent AIDS Clinical Trials) Network” (Barton, 3/5).

Bloomberg News: Glaxo Preparing With J&J to Test Once-a-Month AIDS Drugs
“GlaxoSmithKline Plc (GSK) and Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) are preparing to test the first monthly injections of experimental AIDS drugs in a study that may transform the treatment of the deadly disease…” (Bennett, 3/5).

The Guardian: HIV’s efficiency makes it a formidable foe
Guardian Health Editor Sarah Boseley summarizes the challenges researchers face in searching for an HIV cure, as well as findings from several studies presented at CROI (3/5).

Science Speaks: CROI 2014: GeneXpert real world study yields mixed results, highlights SA health system challenges
“Gavin Churchyard and Katherine Fielding presented results this morning from the XPert for TB: Evaluating a New Diagnostic Trial (EXTEND) on the question of whether Xpert MTB/RIF diagnostic test reduces early mortality in adults with suspected TB, facilitates earlier initiation of TB treatment and antiretroviral therapy and reduces the number of patients lost to follow up compared to sputum microscopy…” (Lubinski, 3/5).

Science Speaks: CROI 2014: HIV patient deaths, treatment interruptions highlight need to integrate care, strengthen data collection
“A discussion launched by findings from researchers working in Africa and India Tuesday focused on the quest to keep people living with HIV in care, and on measures to improve their outcomes…” (Lubinski, 3/5).

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