Workshop on new antiretroviral therapy (ART) trials in Africa to be held in Entebbe, Uganda on 29-30 March 2007. (360G-Wellcome-082422_Z_07_Z)

Workshop on new anti-retroviral therapy (ART) trials in Africa Prioritising the main questions about ART treatment strategies now facing Africa needs to be undertaken by professionals at sites treating adults, children and families with HIV infection on the ground in Africa, in particular centres who have already been involved in addressing research questions around current first-line ART. Partnerships between such groups and those from the North in order to build on expertise learnt from managing patients, as well as expertise in the design and execution of large multicentre clinical trials is needed to identify knowledge gaps and opportunities and to drive the agenda forward. A number of questions need answers from large randomised controlled trials. These can be broadly divided into: The timing of ART decisions When to start When to switch from first-line to second-line ART Strategies to maximise long-term efficacy and minimise toxicity. Approaches for both first and second-line ART include cycling drugs and drugs regimens, induction-maintenance approaches, simplification of treatment to improve adherence, and intermittent therapy. Monitoring patients prior to and on ART - with which tests and how frequently Management of patients failing second-line therapy Use of adjunctive therapies with ART - such as immunomodulants, nutritional supplements and drugs for prevention of opportunistic infections.