Presentations at CROI provide valuable lessons and insights in key studies
CAPRISA scientists presented a diverse range of research studies at the 31st Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI), held from 3 to 6 March at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver, Colorado, USA. The in-person conference, attended by over 2000 stakeholders featured “innovative interactive sessions, rich poster sessions, and networking opportunities”.
Dr Anushka Naidoo’s (PI INSIGHT Trial), oral presentation of data on the CAPRISA 093 INSIGHT Trial preliminary results, generated wide-spread media coverage and discussion. Naidoo’s presentation on an abstract titled: “Efficacy, Safety, and PK of BIC/FTC/TAF in Adults with HIV and Tuberculosis on Rifampicin at Week 24” was presented in the special session for Clinical Late-Breaking Oral Abstracts.
Dr Tanuja Gengiah, Co-PI CAPRISA 018 study received a scholarship from CROI for her oral presentation titled: “Phase I Safety, Tolerability and Pharmacokinetics of Tenofovir Alafenamide Implants in African Women”. Gengiah shared the primary findings from the CAPRISA 018 study - the first in human trial of the TAF implant on 4 March in the session: Game Changers in Prevention of HIV and Sexually Transmitted Infections - Oral-04. A poster titled: “CAPRISA 018 Trial: Acceptability of Tenofovir Alafenamide Implants for HIV PrEP in African Women,” in the session: PrEP: Novel Products, Strategies, and Delivery systems,” was presented by Mr Craig Heck, PhD candidate, Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University, on 5 March.
At one of the final sessions, a symposium titled, Promise and Pitfalls of Biomedical Prevention: Beyond Phase III, three presentations highlighted the status of “approved products and the need for choice”. Dr Leila Mansoor, Senior Scientist, was invited to deliver a presentation and laid out the complex journey of the dapivirine vaginal ring (DVR).
Prof Nigel Garrett, national Co-PI of SHERPA, and International Co-Chair of Ubuntu and collaborators presented the main findings of the SHERPA and Ubuntu mRNA-1273 COVID-19 vaccine trials, an immunology sub-study of the HVTN 108 trial and a costing study from the CAPRISA 091 ‘STREAM HIV’ implementation trial. Garrett presented a Late Breaker Poster Presentation titled: “Heterologous mRNA-1273 Boost After Ad26.CoV2-S Prime in Health Workers in South Africa: SHERPA Trial”.