e-Pharmalink is an electronic newsletter of the Ecumenical Pharmaceutical Network (EPN), an independent, non-profit Christian organization whose mission is to increase access to medicines and health services through facilitating the development of compassionate, just, and sustainable quality pharmaceutical care through the church health care system.

This newsletter aims at equipping pharmacists and other health professionals with information about international trends relevant to their work and opportunities that could support them in their efforts to provide effective and efficient services, particularly in poor countries. It is a summary of news reported by a wide range of publications or organizations and includes web links to the original sources. Anyone can receive this e-mail.

NEWS     

HIV and AIDS

More evidence that antiretrovirals reduce the risk of non-HIV illnesses at lower CD4 cell counts
Antiretroviral treatment reduces the risk of serious non-HIV-related illness for patients with a CD4 cell count below 350 cells/mm3 .
http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/0EA5C250-4639-4251-A2FE-D5146AFCC2C7.asp

Three million injecting drug users are HIV-positive
According to a study published in the September edition of The Lancet; approximately 16 million people worldwide inject drugs, with 3 million infected with HIV.
High levels of HIV infection amongst injecting drug users were observed in south and south East Asia, Eastern Europe and Latin America. However, the investigators’ study was limited by a lack of reliable data from many countries, most notably in sub-Saharan Africa, an indication of the neglect of the HIV prevention needs of injecting drug users.
http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/56DC4E04-9AC3-4D09-9F62-DAF605803A1C.asp

Ezetimibe safe and effective for cholesterol reduction in patients taking HIV treatment
Ezetimibe significantly lowers LDL cholesterol in patients taking HIV treatment. The researchers found that mean LDL cholesterol levels were 11% lower after six weeks of treatment with the drug.
http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/DF2E4EA4-1866-4A1A-8DF8-6D05E5E30943.asp

Circumcision not effective in preventing HIV among MSM, Study Finds
Despite research showing circumcision can reduce a man's risk of HIV during heterosexual intercourse, a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that the procedure offers little protection against the virus for men who have sex with men, According to the study, there was minimal difference in HIV infections between those MSM who were circumcised and those who were not.
http://kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?DR_ID=54883

Antiretroviral therapy

Survey shows less than 25% getting ARVS in many countries, despite growth in international funding
An analysis by Global Fund Observer shows that just under half of the countries eligible to apply to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria are providing antiretroviral therapy to less than 25% of those who need treatment despite higher levels of coverage.
http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/57662AFF-B651-4A0F-9EC7-086878829537.asp

Herpes drug could offer cheap addition to antiretroviral therapy for developing world
According to a report published in the Cell Host and Microbe journal, Aciclovir, a drug commonly used in the treatment of genital herpes, also suppresses HIV activity in cells already infected with herpes viruses.
HSV-2, the virus that causes genital herpes, has been shown to increase HIV replication and to increase the risk of HIV transmission to sexual partners of those who are infected with both viruses. Even where genital herpes lesions are not present, HSV-2 may cause micro-lesions that are associated with increased shedding of both HSV-2 and HIV in people with HIV infection.
http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/AE968E37-6F05-4F0F-8FB9-E3A7C39CA15F.asp

ARV and TB drugs taken together are more effective
Combining antiretroviral (ARV) therapy with treatment for tuberculosis (TB) could more than halve the current mortality rate among patients co-infected with HIV and TB, saving an estimated 10,000 lives a year in South Africa.
These are the findings of a clinical trial by the Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA) in Durban, which compared mortality rates in three groups of co-infected patients who began ARV treatment at different stages of their TB therapy.
http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=80490

African study explores the safety of antiretroviral therapy during pregnancy
Combination antiretroviral therapy significantly reduces the risks of women with advanced HIV disease having an HIV-infected baby, but increases the risk of having a low birth weight baby, according to research conducted in the Cote d’Ivoire and published in the September 12th edition of AIDS.
But the investigators found that low birth weight did not increase the risk of infant mortality – the only risk factor for this outcome was HIV infection in the infant.
http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/7ED1056F-CFBD-4FC6-A627-0121915E6E6F.asp

Drug Development and Technology

Brazil rejects tenofovir patent
Brazil’s National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI) has rejected a patent on Gilead’s version of tenofovir; one of the most commonly used antiretroviral drugs. The decision is bound to intensify debate over the effects of intellectual property laws on access to medicines.
Recently there has been a greater focus on overturning patents on medicines or preventing the grant of patents in India, where most of the world's generic versions of antiretrovirals are manufactured.
http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/945B0134-C898-40D0-9DC6-9C765352E158.asp

New tool for early diagnosis of breast cancer
Scientists have developed a new X-ray technique for early detection of breast cancer. The technique allows a 3D visualization of the breast with a high spatial resolution and is extremely sensitive to alterations in the tissue, such as those generated by cancer. This technique will help doctors to detect tumours with greater precision than using current X-ray mammography.
http://www.esrf.eu/news/general/breastcancer

RESOURCES

New Website

Health Information for All (HIFA) 2015
HIFA2015 is a campaign and a knowledge network. HIFA2015 involves more than 1,500 people from 110 countries worldwide. Members include health workers, publishers, librarians, information technologists, researchers, social scientists, journalists, policy-makers and others - all working together towards the HIFA2015 goal of having everyone access to an informed healthcare provider. Membership is free and open to all.
http://www.hifa2015.org/

Publications

Guidelines for the storage of essential medicines and other health commodities
The USAID/|DELIVER Project has published a guideline for those that are involved in setting up a storeroom or warehouse. It contains written directions and clear illustrations on receiving and arranging commodities; special storage conditions; tracking commodities; maintaining the quality of the products; constructing and designing a medical store; and waste management; as well as additional resources.
http://deliver.jsi.com/dlvr_content/resources/allpubs/guidelines/GuidStorEsse_Pock.pdf

How to estimate warehouse space for drugs   
The guideline is targeted to those responsible for planning and organizing pharmaceutical purchasing at national and regional levels. It describes a method for establishing the necessary minimum size of pharmaceutical stores and for estimating transport volumes
http://whqlibdoc.who.int/HQ/1993/WHO_DAP_93.3.pdf

Events

Human rights and access to medicine course
Good governance programme and Centre for Human Rights /University of Pretoria is organizing a course on Human Rights and Access to Medicines which will be held from 4 - 8 May 2009.
http://www.ggp.up.ac.za/human_rights_access_to_medicines/