The 9th IAS Conference on HIV Science (IAS 2017) was held 23-26 July 2017 at the Palais des Congrès in Paris, France where HPTN researchers presented 19 abstracts covering HPTN 068, 069, 071, 073, 074, 075, 076, and 077. In addition, the HPTN hosted three unique satellite sessions featuring insights on HPTN 071 (PopART), systemic PrEP, and mathematical modelling for HIV prevention research.

HPTN Oral Presentations:

HPTN 068
Audrey Pettifor presented The effect of school attendance and school drop out on incident HIV and HSV-2 among young women in rural South Africa enrolled in HPTN 068. Young women who attend more school and stay in school have a lower risk of incident HIV and HSV-2 infection. Interventions to prevent infections should continue to encourage young women to attend school more frequently and to avoid drop outs.

Kelly Kilburn presented The effect of a conditional cash transfer for HIV prevention on the experience of partner violence for young women: evidence from a randomized experiment in South Africa HPTN 068. Results indicate that a conditional cash transfer (CCT) for adolescent school girls has protective effects on intimate partner violence (IPV) in part because the intervention reduces the likelihood of sexual debut or having a sexual partner, thereby reducing the opportunity for IPV. Since these behaviors also protect against HIV acquisition, this evidence strengthens the case for CCTs for HIV prevention.

HPTN 071
Helen Ayles presented Increasing knowledge of HIV status among men: a cluster-randomised trial of community-based distribution of oral HIV self-test kits nested in four HPTN 071 communities in Zambia. Results show that introducing HIV self-testing for three months in communities already exposed to door-to-door HIV-testing services for three years, increased the proportion of the population who knew their HIV status. This effect was seen most markedly in men.

HPTN 077
Raphael Landovitz presented Safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics of long-acting injectable cabotegravir in low-risk HIV-uninfected women and men: HPTN 077. Data presented shows long-acting injectable cabotegravir (CAB LA) to be well tolerated by men and women and support the dosing schedule (600mg (3 mL) injections every eight weeks with the first two injections given four weeks apart) currently being used in HPTN 083 and HPTN 084 (in development).

 

HPTN Poster Presentations:

HPTN 068
Danielle Giovenco presented Assessing risk for HIV infection among adolescent girls in South Africa: a validation of the VOICE risk score. Findings revealed that the risk score had limited variability in the HPTN 068 study population, but may still be predictive of HIV incidence.

Marie Stoner presented The effect of schooling on partner age difference and number of sexual partners among young women in rural South Africa enrolled in HPTN 068. Young women who stay in school or attend more days of school have fewer partners and partners closer to their own age than young women who attend less school or drop out. The lack of association with grade repetition suggests that the effect of school on sexual behaviors is more strongly related with frequency of time spent in a school environment than with educational success.

HPTN 069
Shashi Kapadia presented No change in health-related quality of life for at-risk U.S. women and men starting HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP): findings from HPTN 069/ACTG 5305. Quality of life (QOL) in at-risk individuals starting candidate HIV PrEP regimens in a clinical trial is similar to the general population and maintained over time. This finding did not vary among regimens or when adjusted for demographics, adherence, and substance use. Our findings are the first to show that starting a candidate PrEP regimen in at-risk HIV-uninfected U.S women and men was not associated with significant changes in QOL.

HPTN 071
Katharina Hauck presented Health-related quality of life of people living with HIV in Zambia and South Africa: a comparison with HIV-negative people in the baseline survey of the HPTN 071 (PopART) trial. Antiretroviral therapy (ART) is successful in restoring health related quality of life of HIV-positive individuals to that of HIV-negative individuals in this general population sample. Individuals in this study who were unaware of being HIV-positive also reported good health-related-quality of life. The direct health benefits of early diagnosis and ART in preventing losses in health-related quality of life provide support to international advocacy efforts for scale-up of testing and expansion of treatment to all HIV-positive individuals.

Richard Hayes presented Sexually transmitted bedfellows: exquisite association between HIV and HSV2 in 21 communities in Southern Africa in the HPTN 071 (PopART) study. These data show the exquisite association between these two infections, seen at both individual and community levels. While both viruses are sexually transmitted, the associations remained strong after adjustment for measures of sexual behavior. This association is likely due at least partly to a powerful biological cofactor effect of HSV2 on HIV acquisition. Effective control tools for HSV2 could make an important contribution to HIV prevention.

Eliud Nkuna presented Impact of household visit schedule of field teams on retention of community-recruited participants in HIV prevention research: perspectives from the HPTN 071 (PopART) study. To efficiently retain participants, males in particular, more household visits should be scheduled during Saturday shifts instead of midweek shifts. These findings can be used for implementation of community-based research.

Mwate Joseph Chaila presented A primary care level algorithm increases yield of HIV-positive adolescents in a community intervention: HPTN 071 (PopART) Study, Zambia. The screening tool identified adolescents in the general population who are at relatively high risk of being HIV-infected. This can be exploited to allow targeted offer of HCT in resource limited settings.

Blia Yang presented Feasibility, uptake and yield of household-based tuberculosis active case finding within the combination prevention package in the HPTN 071 (PopART) intervention in high TB/HIV burden communities in South Africa. Active case findings through household TB screening within a combination HIV prevention intervention is feasible. Community HIV-care Providers (CHiPs) were able to identify undiagnosed cases in the community and refer adults for treatment.

HPTN 073
Leo Wilton presented two posters for HPTN 073. The first poster, Structural barriers, mental health, and PrEP initiation/non-initiatioMan and adherence among Black MSM in 3 U.S. cities - HPTN 073 study, suggests that integrating strategies that address structural barriers and mental health needs are critical in strengthening PrEP program development and implementation efforts for Black MSM (BMSM). These efforts may facilitate access to a broader reach of BMSM to meet their unique needs related to PrEP uptake and adherence.

The other poster, Mental health vulnerabilities mediate effects of socio-cultural factors on PrEP initiation/non-initiation and adherence among Black MSM in 3 U. S. cities - HPTN 073, suggests that socio-cultural factors involving ethnic and sexual identity affirmation need to be considered for in the development and implementation of PrEP biomedical prevention strategies for BMSM.

HPTN 074
Scott Rose presented Regional differences in injection drug use behaviors: baseline results from the HPTN 074 vanguard HIV prevention trial. Results showed demographics and drug-use behaviors differ dramatically across the three HPTN 074 sites. These differences highlight the heterogeneity of substance-use-related HIV epidemics and suggest the need for flexible, region-specific strategies for combating HIV among people who inject drugs.

HPTN 075
Erica Hamilton presented Most HIV-positive African MSM screened for HPTN 075 are unaware of their infection. Given the UNAIDS 90-90-90 goals, findings indicate suboptimal awareness of HIV positive status among this population of MSM in sub-Saharan Africa with a high HIV prevalence. Promoting repeat and frequent HIV testing seems an effective first step in addressing the HIV treatment cascade in this population.

HPTN 076
Nirupama Sista presented HPTN 076: safety and pharmacokinetics of rilpivirine LA through week 76 in HIV-uninfected women. Results show that rilpivirine long acting, 1200 mg IM every eight weeks was well-tolerated and safe through 76 weeks in African and U.S. women. Rilpivirine plasma concentration at Week 76 was above the PA-IC90 in 92% and detectable in 99% of participants.

Elizabeth Tolley presented Acceptability of Rilpivirine LA (RPV LA): Long-Acting Injectable Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) in HPTN 076. This study provides evidence that a long-acting injectable PrEP product is highly acceptable among young women in both African and U.S. settings. It also provides insights into women's motivations for product use and trial participation, as well as product preferences and concerns that could inform future product development, trial implementation and introductory efforts.

HPTN Women at Risk SC
Millicent Atunjuna presented Cognitive Testing of an Instrument to Evaluate Acceptability and Use of PrEP Products Among Women. This rapid, low-cost cognitive interview study provided valuable insight into participants’ understanding of PrEP acceptability questions, enabling us to further refine the instrument for use in the South African setting. Further validation of the instrument in other geographic settings will improve our ability to examine and compare women’s preferences and needs for PrEP across multiple contexts.

 

Satellite Sessions

Making Strides with Systemic PrEP: Pills, Injection, Infusions and Implants

The HPTN hosted Making Strides with Systemic PrEP: Pills, Injection, Infusions and Implants to discuss the current landscape of PrEP research. There are several studies in the field that are evaluating methods to optimize the adherence to daily TDF/FTC, including HPTN 082, to inform programmatic rollout of oral TDF/FTC as PrEP. During the satellite session, Dr. Connie Celum reviewed how improved messaging, delivery, and access to daily oral PrEP can enhance its uptake. Dr. Mike Cohen provided an overview of all agents being evaluated for systemic PrEP. The safety and efficacy of new agents, including oral Maraviroc and injectable rilpivirine and cabotegravir, are being evaluated by HPTN and other investigators. The HPTN is embarking on Phase III studies to evaluate the efficacy of injectable cabotegravir for PrEP in men who have sex with men and heterosexual women. Demonstration of efficacy of injectable cabotegravir in these two Phase III studies could be a game-changer for HIV prevention. Other anti-viral drugs are being developed as implants to deliver PrEP, which, if successful, will have the advantage of administering long-acting agents every six months with the added benefit of the ability to remove it if safety is a concern. Dr. Thomas Hope reviewed the innovative technologies such as implants for PrEP administration. At the cutting edge of HIV prevention are monoclonal antibodies. Finally, Dr. Nyaradzo Mgodi provided an overview of research being done using monoclonal antibodies. Two studies, (HVTN 703/HPTN 081 and HVTN 704/HPTN 085), evaluating infusion of the monoclonal antibody VRCO1 for prevention of HIV acquisition are underway. If successful, these two studies would have demonstrated proof of concept, making way for other monoclonal antibodies as well as combinations for HIV Prevention.

HPTN Modelling Centre Symposium: Recent Advances in Mathematical Modelling to Inform HIV Prevention Research Activities and Directions

The HPTN Mathematical Modelling Centre, a collaboration between Imperial College London and Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, hosted its first satellite session at an international conference to discuss how mathematical models of HIV transmission and prevention are used to inform HPTN trials and research agenda. The session included talks from HPTN Modelling Centre members (Marie-Claude Boily, Dobromir Dimitrov, Kate Mitchell), and guest speakers Mathieu Maheu-Giroux, Natasha Martin, William Probert, and Peter Vickerman. The presentations covered a wide range of research questions aiming to identify the real drivers of HIV epidemics in various settings, distinguishing between the sources of acquisition and transmission, the impact of HIV interventions tested in ongoing HPTN trials such as HPTN 071 and 078, modelling studies to help design HIV trials, and the innovative use of models to assess the potential impact of structural interventions needed to improve HIV prevention among key populations. Together these results provide new research directions, valuable information on the most vulnerable population on which to focus prevention, the efforts needed to achieve the goal of HIV elimination through prevention, and how to design trials more efficiently.

HPTN 071 (PopART): Cross-Disciplinary Approaches to Understand Successes and Challenges of Implementing a Community-Wide Universal Test and Treat Programme in Sub-Saharan Africa

The HPTN 071 (PopART) team hosted HPTN 071 (PopART): Cross-Disciplinary Approaches to Understand Successes and Challenges of Implementing a Community-Wide Universal Test and Treat Programme in Sub-Saharan Africa. Although significant advances have been made towards the 90:90:90 targets set by UNAIDS, it is crucially important to understand where the gaps lie, what the challenges are in filling those gaps, and the successful approaches that can be used to address those challenges. Protocol Chair Richard Hayes presented on the progress of HPTN 071 towards reaching the 90:90:90 targets. After the second round of the community HIV care provider (CHiP) intervention in Zambia, HPTN 071 estimates that 87% of people living with HIV knew their status overall, close to the first 90 target. Kwame Shanaube focused specifically on what is needed to get to the second 90 in adolescent HIV. Janet Seeley's presentation focused on the time needed to link to care and start ART. James Hargreaves discussed HIV-related stigma in the context of universal testing and treatment, while Katharina Hauck discussed the cost of the community HIV care provider service. Will Probert ended the session with his presentation on modelling the potential effects of the intervention.