[afro-nets] AVAC Report 2006

[Rouzeh Eghtessadi <rouzeh@safaids.org.zw>]

AVAC Report 2006 warns that lack of future-oriented planning
could slow the pace of AIDS prevention research
------------------------------------------------------------

From: Mitchell Warren
To: African Microbicides Advocacy Group eForum
Sent: Thursday, September 14, 2006 7:00 PM

AVAC Report 2006

AIDS Vaccines: The Next Frontiers

September 2006

AIDS Vaccine Advocacy Coalition warns that lack of future-
oriented planning could slow the pace of AIDS prevention
research

Report Focuses on Need to Plan for Different Scenarios, Multiple
Methods of Prevention

The AIDS Vaccine Advocacy Coalition (AVAC) is pleased to
announce the release of its annual report examining the state of
the AIDS vaccine field. This year's report - AIDS Vaccines: The
Next Frontiers - warns that a lack of future-oriented planning
could slow the pace of AIDS prevention research.

At last month's International AIDS Conference in Toronto, new
prevention technologies made the headlines, with speakers
including Bill and Melinda Gates and Bill Clinton making
forceful calls for investments in new technologies including
AIDS vaccines and microbicides. AIDS Vaccines: The Next
Frontiers details the critical steps needed to ensure that these
ambitions become a reality, in a field that is as complex and
active as it has ever been.

AVAC offers its first contribution to the scenario planning that
we think is critical to the success of the field. The next
several years will bring a variety of scenarios which we cannot
encounter unprepared. Instead, the AIDS vaccine field, and the
field of prevention research in general, must engage in rigorous
debate, dialogue and scenario planning which anticipates the
issues that the next few years will bring, and ensures that the
wide range of stakeholders are informed and empowered to make
decisions to compete against the virus.

The Next Frontiers maps the issues, challenges and steps needed
to ensure that research on vaccines and other new prevention
technologies proceeds swiftly around the world. It contains four
provocative future scenarios, describing what the world might
look like in five, six or ten years' time:

· AIDS Vaccine Science, Strategy and Action: The state of the
field, the stakes for the future provides an update on the state
of AIDS vaccine science, science management and funding,
including an analysis of the Global HIV Vaccine Enterprise and
its ongoing search for an executive director; and of the new
Enterprise-related funding streams which emerged over the last
year.

Reports from the Frontlines: Learning from last year's clinical
trials analyzes successes and new challenges in the conduct of
AIDS prevention clinical trials and concludes that a consensus
on "good community practice" (or "GCP") is long overdue. In the
next year, AVAC commits to playing an active role in developing
a draft set of "GCP" guidelines that could help the scientific
community and communities in the field ensure that every trial
that is initiated meets agreed-upon criteria for substantive and
sustainable engagement with the issues.

The Emerging Adolescent Agenda: HPV vaccine, AIDS prevention
research, and the new opportunities for reaching the young
people of the world explores why licensure of the new vaccine
against human papillomavirus (HPV) and cervical cancer presents
the AIDS vaccine field with new opportunities. AVAC calls on the
field to advocate for international and national financing
commitments to ensure widespread access to the vaccine in
resource-poor settings; document and learn from HPV vaccine
experiences with clinical trials and pilot introduction programs
among adolescents; and collaborate on advocacy and communication
campaigns at every level.

AIDS Prevention Evolves (Again): Why we are on the verge of an
era of new complexity? considers the implications of the ever-
expanding field of prevention research, and asks the question:
What do we need to do now to plan for the next two to five years
when we will see results from two large vaccine efficacy
studies, several microbicide efficacy trials, as well as studies
of male circumcision, treatment of herpes simplex virus type 2
to prevent HIV transmission or acquisition, pre-exposure
prophylaxis and the female diaphragm?

In just a few years time, the context for conducting prevention
trials may be dramatically different from what it is today. But
one thing is certain: there will still be a need for a safe,
effective and affordable AIDS vaccine as an element of a
comprehensive prevention package. Just as effective family
planning programs rely on providing women with a "menu" of
options for different times and situations in their lives, so,
too must AIDS prevention researchers and advocates continually
aspire to identify a wider array of strategies and choices.

AIDS Vaccines: The Next Frontiers is available online at
http://www.avac.org/reports.htm
For printed copies of this report, please
mailto:avacreport@avac.org

About AVAC

Founded in 1995, the AIDS Vaccine Advocacy Coalition (AVAC) is a
non-profit, community- and consumer-based organization that uses
public education, policy analysis, advocacy and community
mobilization to accelerate the ethical development and global
delivery of vaccines against HIV/AIDS. For more information,
visit www.avac.org.

--
Mitchell Warren
Executive Director
AIDS Vaccine Advocacy Coalition (AVAC)
Physical: 119 West 24th Street, 7th Floor, New York, NY 10011
Mailing: 101 West 23rd Street, Suite 2227, New York, NY 10011
Tel: +1-212-367-1084
Fax: +1-646-365-3452
Mobile: +1-914-661-1536
mailto:mitchell@avac.org
Internet: www.avac.org and www.aidsvaccineclearinghouse.org