National Scientific Meeting Will Address the Challenges of Adherence to HIV Therapies

The Forum for Collaborative HIV Research & The National Minority AIDS Council
in collaboration with the NIH Office of AIDS Research
For immediate Reiease Contact
November 14,1997 Mark Aurigemma/Candice Sourfman
[phone]
Wendy Wertheimer [phone]
NATIONAL SCIENTIFIC MEETING WILL ADDRES THE CHALLENGES
OF ADHERENCE TO HIV THERAPIES
Treatment Adherence Remains a Major Factor in Effectiveness of AIDS Drug
Breakthroughs; November 20 Washington Conference Will Gather National
Experts to Recommend AIDS Treatment Adherence Research Agenda -
A national conference focusing on the challenges of HIV treatment adherence
will be held in Washington, DC on Thursday, November 20 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel.
The day-long meeting, "Adherence to New HIV Therapies: A Research Conference,"
will bring together representatives from research, clinical practice, the pharmaceutical
industry, healthcare providers, and HIV-affected communities in a focussed scientific
discussion of the medical and behavioral issues involved in adherence to HIV treatment
regimens.
The purpose of this conference is to address the challenges of HIV therapy
adherence, hear from those who are personally affected or who work with individuals
struggling to adhere to HIV therapy regimens, and discuss the research programs and
interventions that should be implemented to help the hundreds of thousands of
Americans with HIV who might benefit from antiviral combination drug regimens.
The Challenqes of HIV Druq Therapy Adherence
Recent advances in AIDS treatment have dramatically improved the health of
many people living with HIV/AIDS. In order to benefit people with HIV, however,
antiretroviral drug combinations must be taken on highly specific schedules, under
closely prescribed circumstances. Meal timing and content is frequently disrupted by
the regimen, and side effects such as diarrhea and nausea can be serious.
While combination therapies have provided substantial benefit to many, the real
life challenges of working these complex drug schedules into one's life can cause
difficulties for even the highly motivated patient. The problems can be exacerbated for
individuals who experience HIV-related disabilities, such as neurological impairment or
wasting, that may impact their ability to adhere to a complex drug regimen.
As difficult as adherence to the new HlV drug regimens may be, however, many

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