TAG TREATMENT ACTION GROUP INC

TUBERCULOSIS (TB) PROGRAMACCORDING TO THE LATEST REPORT FROM THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION (WHO), "TB REMAINED THE WORLD'S SECOND LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH FROM A SINGLE INFECTIOUS AGENT IN 2022, AFTER COVID-19, AND GLOBAL TB TARGETS HAVE EITHER BEEN MISSED OR REMAIN OFF TRACK. THE REPORTED GLOBAL NUMBER OF PEOPLE NEWLY DIAGNOSED WITH TB WAS 7.5 MILLION IN 2022. THIS IS THE HIGHEST NUMBER SINCE WHO BEGAN GLOBAL TB MONITORING IN 1995, ABOVE THE PRE-COVID BASELINE (AND PREVIOUS HISTORICAL PEAK) OF 7.1 MILLION IN 2019, AND UP FROM 5.8 MILLION IN 2020 AND 6.4 MILLION IN 2021... GLOBALLY IN 2022, TB CAUSED AN ESTIMATED 1.30 MILLION DEATHS (95% UI: 1.18-1.43 MILLION). [THIS TOTAL INCLUDES 167 000 DEATHS FROM TB AMONG PEOPLE WITH HIV, WHICH ARE OFFICIALLY CLASSIFIED AS DEATHS FROM HIV/AIDS.] THIS WAS DOWN FROM BEST ESTIMATES OF 1.4 MILLION IN BOTH 2020 AND 2021 AND ALMOST BACK TO THE LEVEL OF 2019. COVID-RELATED DISRUPTIONS ARE ESTIMATED TO HAVE RESULTED IN ALMOST HALF A MILLION EXCESS DEATHS FROM TB IN THE THREE YEARS 2020-2022, COMPARED WITH THE NUMBER THAT WOULD HAVE OCCURRED IF PRE-PANDEMIC TRENDS HAD BEEN MAINTAINED. THE NET REDUCTION IN THE GLOBAL NUMBER OF DEATHS CAUSED BY TB FROM 2015 TO 2022 WAS 19%, FAR FROM THE WHO END TB STRATEGY MILESTONE OF A 75% REDUCTION BY 2025.... WORLDWIDE, AN ESTIMATED 10.6 MILLION PEOPLE (95% UI: 9.9-11.4 MILLION) DEVELOPED TB IN 2022, UP FROM BEST ESTIMATES OF 10.3 MILLION IN 2021 AND 10.0 MILLION IN 2020.... THE GLOBAL GAP BETWEEN THE ESTIMATED NUMBER OF PEOPLE DEVELOPING TB (INCIDENT CASES) AND THE REPORTED NUMBER OF PEOPLE NEWLY DIAGNOSED WITH TB (NOTIFIED CASES) NARROWED TO A BEST ESTIMATE OF 3.1 MILLION IN 2022, DOWN FROM AROUND 4 MILLION IN BOTH 2020 AND 2021 AND BACK TO THE PRE-PANDEMIC LEVEL OF 2019. GLOBALLY, AN ESTIMATED 410 000 PEOPLE (95% UI: 370 000- 450 000) DEVELOPED MULTIDRUG-RESISTANT OR RIFAMPICIN- RESISTANT TB (MDR/RR-TB) IN 2022. THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE DIAGNOSED AND STARTED ON TREATMENT WAS MUCH LOWER: 175 650 PEOPLE IN 2022, EQUIVALENT TO ABOUT TWO IN FIVE OF THOSE IN NEED AND STILL BELOW THE PRE-PANDEMIC LEVEL OF 181 533 PEOPLE IN 2019. GLOBAL TARGETS SET AT THE FIRST UN HIGH-LEVEL MEETING ON TB FOR THE 5-YEAR PERIOD 2018-2022 WERE NOT ACHIEVED. TREATMENT SUCCESS RATES HAVE IMPROVED: TO 88% FOR PEOPLE TREATED FOR DRUG-SUSCEPTIBLE TB AND 63% FOR PEOPLE WITH MDR/RR-TB." THOUGH PREVENTABLE AND CURABLE, TUBERCULOSIS (TB) IS THE LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH OF PEOPLE WITH HIV AND ONCE AGAIN THE LEADING INFECTIOUS KILLER GLOBALLY NOW THAT THE ACUTE PHASE OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC HAS ABATED. RECOGNIZING THAT MUCH MORE PROGRESS COULD BE MADE IF EXISTING TOOLS WERE FULLY IMPLEMENTED, AND THAT MORE RESEARCH IS NEEDED TO END TB, TAG'S TB PROGRAM STRENGTHENS EVIDENCE-DRIVEN AND HUMAN RIGHTS-BASED ADVOCACY BOTH FOR BETTER TB RESEARCH, AND FOR HIGH-QUALITY PROGRAMS AND POLICIES WORLDWIDE, THAT MEET THE NEEDS OF AFFECTED COMMUNITIES.TAG'S TB PROGRAM EDUCATES, MOBILIZES, AND EMPOWERS COMMUNITIES TO INCREASE UNDERSTANDING OF TB AND TO CATALYZE ACTION TO REDUCE NEW INFECTIONS, DEATHS, AND SUFFERING FROM TB AND TB/HIV. THE PROGRAM WORKS WITH COMMUNITY ADVOCATES, COMMUNITY ADVISORY BOARDS, RESEARCHERS, POLICY MAKERS, DEVELOPERS, AND DONORS TO ENSURE NEEDS-DRIVEN RESEARCH TO IMPROVE OPTIONS FOR TB PREVENTION, DIAGNOSIS, AND TREATMENT. THE TB PROGRAM PUBLISHES AN ANNUAL REPORT ON TB RESEARCH FUNDING TRENDS, AND ADVOCATES FOR ALL GOVERNMENTS OF THE WORLD TO STEP UP AND CONTRIBUTE THEIR "FAIR SHARE" INVESTMENTS IN TB R&D.THE TB PROGRAM WORKS WITH RESEARCHERS, ACTIVISTS, AND POLICYMAKERS AROUND THE WORLD TO ENSURE TRANSPARENCY AND UNIVERSAL, EQUITABLE, AFFORDABLE ACCESS TO PROVEN INTERVENTIONS, FROM EARLY IN THE RESEARCH PROCESS THROUGH REGULATORY APPROVAL TO GLOBAL AND NATIONAL GUIDELINES DEVELOPMENT AND PRODUCT PRICING. TAG'S POLICY TEAM SUPPORTS THE TB PROGRAM IN EDUCATING U.S. LEGISLATORS AND OFFICIALS ON TB PRIORITIES, AND LEADS DOMESTIC WORK AT THE LOCAL, STATE, AND NATIONAL LEVEL TO SUPPORT AMBITIOUS AND EVIDENCE-BASED PROGRAMMING TO END.

HIV PROGRAMACCORDING TO A JULY 2024 UNAIDS REPORT TITLED "THE URGENCY OF NOW: AIDS AT A CROSSROADS" , THERE ARE: " APPROXIMATELY 40 MILLION PEOPLE GLOBALLY LIVING WITH HIV;" 30.7 MILLION PEOPLE ACCESSING ANTIRETROVIRAL THERAPY;" AN ESTIMATED 1.3 MILLION PEOPLE WHO NEWLY ACQUIRED HIV;" 630 000 PEOPLE WHO DIED FROM AIDS-RELATED ILLNESSES;" ONLY 3.5 MILLION PEOPLE WERE USING ORAL PREP -- SHORT OF THE GLOBAL TAG'S HIV PROGRAM WORKS TO MAXIMIZE EQUITABLE, AFFORDABLE ACCESS TO THE TOOLS, SERVICES, POLICIES, AND APPROACHES TO CARE THAT ARE ESSENTIAL FOR THE GOAL OF ENDING THE HIV EPIDEMIC DOMESTICALLY AND GLOBALLY. ADVOCACY FOCUSED ON ENDING THE EPIDEMIC (ETE) IS AT THE CORE OF THE HIV PROGRAM'S WORK, FROM DRIVING THE NATION'S FIRST ETE INITIATIVE IN NEW YORK TO LEADING THE ACT NOW: END AIDS (ANEA) COALITION'S SUPPORT FOR PARTNERS IN HEAVILY BURDENED JURISDICTIONS IN THE SOUTHERN U.S. TAG'S HIV AND POLICY TEAMS TACKLE ISSUES AROUND DRUG PRICING AND EQUITABLE ACCESS TO EMERGING BIOMEDICAL INTERVENTIONS; FUNDING FOR EVIDENCE-BASED HIV PROGRAMMING; ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE; AND POLICIES THAT PROMOTE SAFE, INCLUSIVE ENVIRONMENTS THAT ARE FREE OF STIGMA AND DISCRIMINATION FOR PEOPLE TO SEEK PREVENTION AND CARE FOR HIV AND RELATED INFECTIONS, INCLUDING SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS.THE ANEA COALITION HAS ACHIEVED SIGNIFICANT MILESTONES IN ITS MISSION TO COMBAT HIV/AIDS AND PROMOTE EQUITABLE ACCESS TO CARE. THESE ACCOMPLISHMENTS HAVE INCLUDED SUCCESSFUL IMPLEMENTATION OF STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES (SOPS) TO STREAMLINE COALITION PROCESSES, INCLUDING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF CLEAR PROTOCOLS FOR DUES COLLECTION, MEMBERSHIP MANAGEMENT, AND INVOICING. ADDITIONALLY, ANEA CONDUCTED A COMPREHENSIVE EHE READINESS ASSESSMENT IN COLLABORATION WITH PARTNER JURISDICTIONS, CONSISTING OF A DETAILED SURVEY AND KEY INFORMANT INTERVIEWS. THIS ASSESSMENT HAS PROVIDED A CRUCIAL UNDERSTANDING OF THE SUCCESSES AND CHALLENGES ENCOUNTERED IN UTILIZING EHE FUNDS TO REACH HIGHLY-IMPACTED COMMUNITIES. IN 2023, ANEA HOSTED THREE HIGHLY IMPACTFUL WORKSHOPS DURING THE ANNUAL U.S. CONFERENCE ON HIV AND AIDS (USCHA); HOSTED QUARTERLY COALITION MEETINGS THAT HAVE HIGHLIGHTED BEST PRACTICES AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN VARIOUS EHE JURISDICTIONS; AND COORDINATED OUTREACH TO FEDERAL POLICY MAKERS TO ADVANCE ANEA'S CORE HIV POLICY PRIORITIES. IN COLLABORATION WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONAL PARTNERS AND THE FEDERAL AIDS POLICY PARTNERSHIP'S (FAPP) RESEARCH WORKING GROUP, TAG ALSO CO-HOSTED A CONGRESSIONALBRIEFING IN WASHINGTON DC FOCUSED EXCLUSIVELY ON PROGRESS TOWARD ENDING THE DOMESTIC HIV EPIDEMIC VIS--VIS THE FULL SPECTRUM HIV RESEARCH (I.E., TREATMENT, PREVENTION, VACCINE AND CURE RESEARCH), HIGHLIGHTING THE CRITICAL NEED FOR ONGOING FUNDING TO ADVANCE HIV RESEARCH WRIT-LARGE. TAG'S HIV PROGRAM LEADS RESEARCH ACTIVISM AND PROMOTES COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT TO ENSURE THAT PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV EVERYWHERE HAVE MORE OPTIONS INCLUDING, ULTIMATELY, A SAFE AND EFFECTIVE HIV VACCINE AND A CURE THAT ARE SCALABLE, AFFORDABLE, AND CAN BE USED WORLDWIDE. TAG'S HIV PROGRAM RECOGNIZES THAT EVEN THE MOST EFFECTIVE EXISTING PREVENTION AND TREATMENT INTERVENTIONS HAVE SHORTCOMINGS. TO THIS END, TAG TRACKS THE ANTIRETROVIRAL, CURE, IMMUNE-BASED THERAPY, AND BIOMEDICAL PREVENTION PIPELINES AND PUBLISHES ANNUAL REPORTS SUMMARIZING THEIR CURRENT STATUS. TAG ALSO PLAYS A VITAL LEADERSHIP ROLE IN BASIC SCIENCE, VACCINES, AND CURE ADVOCACY, PARTICIPATING IN COMMUNITY ADVISORY BOARDS AND ADMINISTERING AN EMAIL DISCUSSION LISTSERV FOR STAKEHOLDERS IN HIV CURE AND IMMUNE-BASED THERAPY RESEARCH. OUR HIV CURE-RELATED CLINICAL TRIALS WEBSITE LISTING, UPDATED MONTHLY TO PROVIDE INFORMATION ON STUDIES AND THEIR RESULTS, IS WIDELY CITED IN SCIENTIFIC PAPERS AND IN CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS. THE HIV PROGRAM ALSO ADVOCATES FOR APPROPRIATE INTERVENTIONS FOR PEOPLE WHO, DESPITE HIV TREATMENT, STILL HAVE POOR IMMUNE SYSTEM RECOVERY. CENTRAL TO THIS WORK IS ENSURING LEGISLATORS AND POLICY MAKERS UNDERSTAND THE NEED FOR RESEARCH FUNDING, AND HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO MAKE DECISIONS BASED ON SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE.IN 2023, TAG'S HIV PROGRAM CONDUCTED COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES ON THE TOPICS OF BIOMEDICAL HIV PREVENTION, ENHANCING PRIOR AND CURRENT PROGRAMMING BY ESTABLISHING A HIV VACCINE SOCIAL MEDIA AMBASSADORSHIP PROGRAM IN COLLABORATION WITH THE HIV VACCINE TRIALS NETWORK, BLACK AIDS INSTITUTE, AND SOUTHERN AIDS COALITION, THE SUCCESSES OF WHICH WERE FEATURED IN A WORKSHOP DURING USCHA AS WELL AS DURING THE HVTN'S ANNUAL MEETING IN SEATTLE, WA. TAG STAFF ALSO CONTINUE TO PARTICIPATE AS CO-ORGANIZERS OF THE PREP IN BLACK AMERICA COALITION, A NETWORK OF ADVOCATES WORKING TO INCREASE EQUITABLE ACCESS AND UPTAKE OF PRE-EXPOSURE PROPHYLAXIS FOR HIV PREVENTION, WHICH IN MAY 2023 HOSTED IN SECOND SUMMIT IN NEW ORLEANS, LA. TAG ALSO CONTINUES TO LEAD AND CO-ORGANIZE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES ON HIV CURE RESEARCH, INCLUDING THE ANNUAL PRE-CROI COMMUNITY HIV CURE RESEARCH WORKSHOP, AND CONTINUES TO MAINTAIN THE ONLY KNOWN DATABASE MONITORING THE DEMOGRAPHICS OF PARTICIPANTS IN HIV CURE-FOCUSED CLINICAL TRIALS. ALL WEBINARS AND MATERIALS PRODUCED BY THE HIV PROGRAM ARE AVAILABLE ON TAG'S WEBSITE.