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Top HIV/AIDS Stories of 2008

Some perspective on the year’s greatest successes and disappointments

Dear Readers,

As is true every year in HIV research, 2008 brought with it both dramatic progress and some significant failures. Certainly, our therapies have grown better and better, with virologic suppression now an achievable reality for virtually all patients, regardless of baseline stage of disease or degree of drug resistance. Our attempts at prevention, however, have continued to fail, most notably in the vaccine arena, where a once-promising adenovirus-based vaccine proved ineffective and possibly harmful. These failures have forced us to completely reconsider how we should approach HIV prevention, with a greater focus on antiretroviral therapy for both those with the virus and those at risk. In the next year, we can anticipate not only the usual incremental advances in treatment but also greater progress (and challenges) as therapy is made more broadly available to the developing world.

Here are our Top Stories for 2008:

Earlier HIV Treatment Is Gaining Momentum

Abacavir Turmoil

Beyond Abacavir/3TC: Good News on First-Line Regimens

Newer Drugs Strikingly Effective When Given Together

Crash and Burn of HIV Vaccine Candidates

No Good News Yet on Anti-HIV Microbicides

HIV Incidence in the U.S.: New Methods Result in a Higher Estimate

Antiretroviral Rollout — Successes and Challenges

Rapid HIV Testing Is Not Without Its Flaws

The Prospect of PrEP

— Paul E. Sax, MD

Published in AIDS Clinical Care December 29, 2008