Rise in Syphilis Among MSM in San Francisco Linked to Internet
The internet is a major factor in San Francisco's increase in early syphilis infections among men who have sex with men (MSM), according to a recent study from the CDC. A focus on data for 415 MSM diagnosed with early syphilis in 2002 found that internet chat rooms were the most common venues for meeting partners. Last year, the city reported the highest rates of first and second-stage syphilis of any metropolitan area in the nation. Between 1998-2002, early syphilis cases increased from 41 to 495. Officials noted at the time the proportion of cases among MSM had jumped from 22 percent in 1998 to 88 percent in 2002. However, the CDC and San Francisco Department of Public Health officials say that they have evidence that internet-based partner notification can be an effective tool for finding and treating early syphilis infections.
"Internet Use and Early Syphilis Infection Among Men Who Have Sex with Men - San Francisco, California, 1999-2003," MMWR (2003;52(50):1229-1232).  

Bioequivalence study: 500 mg pill of Invirase
Two 200 mg formulations of Saquinavir (SQV) are currently marketed for oral administration in the treatment of HIV infection: Invirase, a hard gelatin capsule (saquinavir mesylate) and Fortovase, a soft gelatin capsule (saquinavir base). Both formulations have shown good efficacy and safety when boosted with ritonavir (r) in a SQV/r dosing of 1000/100 mg bid. The pill count for a SQV/r regimen using the current 200 mg formulation is 12 pills per day. Roche is developing a 500 mg saquinavir mesylate tablet that is smaller than the existing 200 mg formulation, allowing the use of only two SQV tablets twice daily in combination with ritonavir. The lower pill count and improved convenience may improve adherence to SQV/r regimens.
Boffito, Marta et al 9th EACS, October 2003, Warsaw, Poland. Oral Abstract

Study: Safety, Tolerability, and Efficacy of Interferon/Ribavirin Combination Therapy in Methadone Maintenance (MM) Patients with Active Hepatitis C (HCV)
In this study from the University of California, 78 percent of MM treated patients completed the six to 12 month course of interferon/ribavirin combination therapy. The end-of-treatment virologic response rate was 64% in patients completing treatment and 54% in an intent-to-treat analysis. Despite the fact that MM patients exhibit a number of factors that make HCV treatment challenging, such as older age, a higher prevalence of psychiatric illness, and more advanced liver disease, their end-of-treatment response rate to therapy is similar to that of patients without a history of IDU. These preliminary suggest that that MM patients should be considered as potential candidates for HCV treatment. 
Sylvestre, DL. Treating Hepatitis C in Methadone Maintenance Patients: An Interim Analysis, Drug and Alcohol Dependence 67 (2) (2002) pp. 117 - 123.

Study: Gilead Announces Preliminary Results from 48-Week Phase III Study of Emtricitabine in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis B 
Preliminary results from a Phase III clinical trial comparing the efficacy and safety of emtricitabine 200 mg once daily versus placebo in patients with chronic hepatitis B have been released. The results demonstrate improvements in liver histology in 62% of patients who received the drug compared to 25% of patients who received placebo (p less than 0.001). Improvement in liver histology was the primary endpoint in this study. Gilead expects to present these data in detail at a scientific conference next year.
www.natap.org 11/26/03

New CDC HIV Prevention Funding Emphasizes Effectiveness, Focuses on Those Already Infected
The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has announced $49 million in HIV prevention grants that require grantees to prove that their efforts are effective and focus more on doing prevention among people who are already infected with the virus. "The announcement included some specific items that are called program performance indicators," said Dr. Harold W. Jaffe, director of CDC's National Center for HIV, STD and TB Prevention. "They attempt to set goals." The CDC expects to fund roughly 160 grants ranging in amounts from $100,000 to $500,000, according to the December 3, 2003 announcement. The grants will run for five years, but the $49 million represents only the first year's funding.
HIV Update, 12/15/03

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