HIV Treatments: From Antiretroviral Therapy to Vaccines

Since 2010, the world has witnessed significant advancements in the management of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), with treatment strategies shifting from antiretroviral therapies to novel treatments such as single-dose medications and injections. Despite the progress that has been made, elements including HIV disease heterogeneity and geographical variation pose challenges to HIV clinical trials.

How can the drug development industry overcome these challenges to support the HIV community by advancing novel treatment options? What best practices can be used to improve management of infectious disease clinical trials? These barriers require sponsors to rethink the way that they manage infectious disease clinical trials, and call for innovative research strategies and access to novel technologies.

Topics that the panelists will explore include:

• The state of the current HIV treatment landscape
• Innovations on the horizon for HIV treatment and prevention — from gene-based therapies to CAR T-cell immunotherapies
• Benefits of incorporating decentralised and agile clinical trial models
• How digital health technologies are improving adherence to antiretroviral therapies
• The new outlook for HIV for 2021 and beyond

Register for this webinar to hear two experts explore the current and future state of HIV clinical research, as well as strategies for delivering quality, patient-centric HIV prevention and treatment options.

Speakers

Shelley McLendon, Vice President, Project Management, Vaccines and Infectious Disease, ICON

Shelley McLendon has more than 23 years of clinical research experience, 17 of which are tenured at ICON. Shelley provides executive leadership and oversight for ICON’s clinical and project management teams in the implementation and execution of vaccine and infectious disease clinical development programs. She also consults with small to mid-size biotechnology clients and large pharmaceutical companies providing strategic operational guidance and driving partnership development. Shelley is a key leader of ICON’s COVID-19 Taskforce, which is cross-functional team of ICON executive leaders whose mission is to make a difference by advancing research in the fight against COVID-19.

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Dr. Caroline Forkin, MD, Senior Director, Global Research Services, ICON

Dr. Forkin brings 25 years’ experience in clinical, pharmaceutical and global health settings, including extensive experience in Africa. With a clinical background in Infectious Diseases, Caroline’s experience in Africa included senior roles as HIV/AIDS Advisor for both the World Bank and the Irish Government. These roles involved working with the Mozambican Ministry of Health, National AIDS Council, together with other global health entities, such as the Clinton Foundation HIV/AIDS Initiative, the Global Fund for AIDS, TB, and Malaria, and the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief. Dr. Forkin’s pharma experience prior to joining ICON includes country medical lead for two biotech companies. Her role at ICON is Senior Director for Clinical Research Services with responsibility for all their studies in Africa and the Middle East.

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Alex Kintu, MD MS ScD, Director, Clinical Research - Virology, Gilead Sciences

Alex is a Director, Clinical Research in Gilead’s Virology Therapeutic Area primarily working on the clinical development of PrEP drugs. He is a physician and research scientist with many years of collaborative clinical and population-based work in HIV in sub-Saharan Africa. Previously, he oversaw the initial rollout of HIV treatment services in a rural region in Uganda and was a clinician in one of the pivotal PrEP trials, the Partners Study. His other work has involved examining the causal links between HIV/ART and non-communicable diseases. Alex has a degree in Medicine and Surgery from Mbarara University (Uganda), an MS. in Epidemiology from University of Massachusetts, Amherst and a Doctor of Science (ScD) in Global Health and Population from Harvard University.

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