Publications

This paper discusses key findings from an independent Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT)-funded joint Strategic Assessment of HIV in ten Asian countries. It argues that despite high level intentions to intensify regional HIV responses, and growing evidence for what needs to be done, many Asian countries are struggling to refocus their resources and programmes to where it matters most, largely because of a legacy of outdated and inappropriate policy, programming and resourcing.

HCV has been described as a “dual epidemic” with HIV because it is highly prevalent in HIV-endemic areas and it disproportionately affects vulnerable populations that also have a high risk of developing HIV infection—especially in Asia and Eastern Europe. HIV/HCV co-infection has emerged as an urgent public health issue that is jeopardizing the progress made in addressing the HIV epidemic.

Transgender people in Asia and the Pacific face many challenges in claiming their rights in general, and specifically their right to health care. Through capacity building the transgender community can be empowered to promote transgender-positive attitudes and advocate for competent, comprehensive and accessible health services. In order to identify priority actions for the health and rights of transgender people in Asia and the Pacific, the Agenda in Transition regional community consultation was held in Bangkok, Thailand, on 19-20 February 2014. This event brought together diverse members of the transgender community; UN agencies, civil society organizations, donors and other partners to review the current situation for the region’s transgender people and determine those needs, which require accelerated action.

The framework for sustainable development in the 21th century must maximize healthy wellbeing at all ages through universal coverage and pro-health policies in all sectors. Adopting a life course approach that will benefit all persons, we recommend the health goal Achieve Health and Wellbeing at All Ages. To accomplish this objective we propose that all countries achieve universal health coverage at every stage of life, with particular emphasis on primary health services, including mental and reproductive health, to ensure that all people receive quality health services without suffering financial hardship. Countries implement policies to create enabling social and environmental conditions that promote the health of populations and help individuals make healthy and sustainable decisions related to their daily living.

Violence against women is a human rights issue with significant social and public health implications. Effective prevention of violence against women (VAW) and quality services for survivors depend on a clear understanding of the prevalence of violence and its dynamics.

The patent landscape in Annex I of this report sets out the key patents and patent applications for bedaquiline, including their geographical patent coverage, as of June 2011. While every effort has been made to obtain comprehensive and accurate information on the status and geographical scope of the patents covering bedaquiline, in many countries patent information is not readily available to the public or not updated on a regular basis. In addition, some patent applications may have been published only after the searches were conducted. As such, there may be other relevant patents which have subsequently been published and which are not included in this landscape. Accordingly, the information provided herein is subject to the above disclaimers.

TB treatment has become more complex, particularly with the emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. There were approximately 450 000 new cases of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) worldwide in 2012.1 MDR-TB is resistant to the two most commonly used TB drugs, isoniazid and rifampicin. It requires extended treatment with second-line drugs that are less effective and have more adverse effects than isoniazid- and rifampicin-based regimens. Given the emergence of MDR-TB, and the need to shorten treatment duration, new drugs are required. The last of the current anti-TB treatments—rifampicin—was introduced in 1963. Since then, research for new TB treatments had largely come to halt. However, in recent years the pipeline for potential new TB treatments has started to look more promising than it has for the past 50 years. One compound that is currently in the pipeline and generating interest is AstraZeneca's investigational compound AZD5847. AZD5847 has been identified as a possible new treatment for drug-susceptible TB and/or for MDR-TB.

Delamanid was discovered via a screening programme carried out by Otsuka. The compound belongs to the nitroimidazole class of compounds and is a derivative of compound CGI-17341 whose anti-TB activity was already reported in 1993. Previously known as OPC-67683, delamanid is a mycolic-acid biosynthesis inhibitor found to be free of mutagenicity and to possess highly potent activity against tuberculosis (TB), including multidrug-resistant-tuberculosis (MDR-TB).

PA-824 belongs to the nitroimidazoles class of compounds and is a derivative of compound CGI-17341 whose anti-TB activity was reported as early as 1993. PA-824 was discovered by Patho- Genesis Corporation, which was subsequently acquired by Chiron Corporation. Novartis AG acquired Chiron Corporation in 2006. PA-824 is a pro-drug, which requires reductive activation of an aromatic nitro group before it becomes effective against TB bacteria.

WHO, with support from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), developed the present tool on specifications and quantities for efficient procurement of essential equipment and laboratory commodities for HIV. The ultimate purpose of the tool is to facilitate the efficient procurement of laboratory equipment and laboratory commodities required to:

• perform HIV diagnostic tests in adults, adolescent and children;
• monitor treatment outcomes in patients on antiretroviral therapy.