Abstract The development of new drugs depends on several scientific steps, which culminate in clinical trials. The clinical trials pharmacy (CTP) is the place for receiving, preparing, storing and dispensing the investigational product or study drug. Therefore, it must have infrastructure and procedures that guarantee participant safety and quality of research data. This study aimed to systematize guidelines for CTP in Brazil. We conducted a scope review and organized the results using the Ishikawa Method (6Ms). In total, 51 publications were selected for each “M”, 39 laws, regulations or guidelines and 12 scientific articles: 25 publications for pharmaceutical services (pharmacy procedures to ensure participant safety from investigational product ordering to final disposition), 14 for Quality Indicators, 12 for Human Resources, 11 for Infrastructure, 11 for Material Resources and 5 for Investigational Product. Our results synthesize information for the organization, operation and evaluation of CTP in Brazil, emphasizes the inclusion of the pharmacist within the clinical trials context, and contributes to preparation for monitoring, auditing, and inspections conducted by regulatory agencies.

Resumo O desenvolvimento de novos medicamentos depende de etapas científicas que culminam nos ensaios clínicos em seres humanos. A farmácia de ensaios clínicos (FEC) é o local destinado ao recebimento, preparação, armazenamento e dispensação do produto investigacional (PI). Para tanto, deve possuir infraestrutura e procedimentos que garantam a segurança do participante e a qualidade da pesquisa. Este trabalho teve por objetivo sistematizar diretrizes para FEC no Brasil. Foi realizada uma revisão de escopo e as diretrizes foram organizadas utilizando o método de Ishikawa (“método 6Ms”). No total foram selecionadas 51 publicações, sendo 39 diretrizes e normas e 12 artigos científicos para cada “M”; 25 descreveram o ciclo de assistência farmacêutica (procedimentos para assegurar a segurança dos participantes, desde a requisição do produto até a destinação final), 14 indicadores de qualidade, 12 de recursos humanos, 11 de infraestrutura e recursos materiais e 5 descreveram PIs. para organização, funcionamento e avaliação de FEC no Brasil e corroboram a necessidade da presença do profissional farmacêutico no ciclo da assistência farmacêutica no contexto dos ensaios clínicos, contribuindo ainda na preparação para monitorias, auditorias e inspeções de agências regulatórias.

Resumo O desenvolvimento de novos medicamentos depende de etapas científicas que culminam nos ensaios clínicos em seres humanos. A farmácia de ensaios clínicos (FEC) é o local destinado ao recebimento, preparação, armazenamento e dispensação do produto investigacional (PI). Para tanto, deve possuir infraestrutura e procedimentos que garantam a segurança do participante e a qualidade da pesquisa. Este trabalho teve por objetivo sistematizar diretrizes para FEC no Brasil. Foi realizada uma revisão de escopo e as diretrizes foram organizadas utilizando o método de Ishikawa (“método 6Ms”). No total foram selecionadas 51 publicações, sendo 39 diretrizes e normas e 12 artigos científicos para cada “M”; 25 descreveram o ciclo de assistência farmacêutica (procedimentos para assegurar a segurança dos participantes, desde a requisição do produto até a destinação final), 14 indicadores de qualidade, 12 de recursos humanos, 11 de infraestrutura e recursos materiais e 5 descreveram PIs. para organização, funcionamento e avaliação de FEC no Brasil e corroboram a necessidade da presença do profissional farmacêutico no ciclo da assistência farmacêutica no contexto dos ensaios clínicos, contribuindo ainda na preparação para monitorias, auditorias e inspeções de agências regulatórias.

Abstract The development of new drugs depends on several scientific steps, which culminate in clinical trials. The clinical trials pharmacy (CTP) is the place for receiving, preparing, storing and dispensing the investigational product or study drug. Therefore, it must have infrastructure and procedures that guarantee participant safety and quality of research data. This study aimed to systematize guidelines for CTP in Brazil. We conducted a scope review and organized the results using the Ishikawa Method (6Ms). In total, 51 publications were selected for each “M”, 39 laws, regulations or guidelines and 12 scientific articles: 25 publications for pharmaceutical services (pharmacy procedures to ensure participant safety from investigational product ordering to final disposition), 14 for Quality Indicators, 12 for Human Resources, 11 for Infrastructure, 11 for Material Resources and 5 for Investigational Product. Our results synthesize information for the organization, operation and evaluation of CTP in Brazil, emphasizes the inclusion of the pharmacist within the clinical trials context, and contributes to preparation for monitoring, auditing, and inspections conducted by regulatory agencies.

Resumo: A profilaxia pré-exposição ao HIV (PrEP) tem sido considerada uma estratégia fundamental para o controle da epidemia de HIV/aids, e desde 2018 tem sido objeto de estudo de implementação (Estudo ImPrEP Stakeholders), realizado no Brasil, no México e no Peru. Um componente qualitativo desse estudo foi desenvolvido com o objetivo de identificar os contextos sociais e estruturais que envolvem e organizam a oferta de serviços de PrEP no Brasil, as subjetividades dos atores envolvidos e as diferentes percepções que podem impactar a efetivação dessa estratégia. O presente artigo teve como foco de análise o acesso das populações vulneráveis aos serviços de PrEP, na perspectiva de gestores, profissionais de saúde, lideranças ou ativistas e usuários de PrEP. É um estudo qualitativo com o uso de metodologia compreensiva, realizado em seis capitais brasileiras, em que foram entrevistados 71 atores-chave no período de novembro de 2018 a maio de 2019. A análise foi pautada pelos modelos analíticos sobre acesso propostos por Giovanella & Fleury, McIntyre et al. e Penchansky & Thomas. Os resultados são apresentados com base em três eixos: “percepções sobre prevenção combinada e PrEP”; “disponibilidade e adequação: perfil e estrutura dos serviços no contexto do ImPrEP”; e “aceitabilidade: atitudes e práticas dos profissionais de saúde e usuários”.

Abstract: HIV preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) has been considered a fundamental strategy for controlling the HIV/AIDS epidemic, and since 2018 it has been the object of an implementation study (ImPrEP Stakeholders Study), conducted in Brazil, México, and Peru. A qualitative component of this study was developed with the objective of identifying the social and structural contexts that involve and organize the supply of PrEP services in Brazil, the stakeholders’ subjectivities, and the different perceptions that can impact the strategy’s implementation. The current article’s focus was to analyze access by vulnerable populations to PrEP services from the perspective of managers, health professionals, leaders or activists, and users of PrEP. This was a qualitative study using a comprehensive methodology, conducted in six Brazilian state capitals, interviewing 71 key actors from November 2018 to May 2019. The analysis was based on access analysis models as proposed by Giovanella & Fleury, McIntyre et al. and Penchansky & Thomas. The results are presented along three lines: “perceptions of combined prevention and PrEP”, “availability and adequacy: profile and structure of services in the context of ImPrEP”, and “acceptability: attitudes and practices of health professionals and users”.

Resumen: La profilaxis preexposición al VIH (PrEP) ha sido considerada una estrategia fundamental para el control de la epidemia de VIH/sida y desde 2018 ha sido objeto de estudio de implementación (Estudio ImPrEP Stakeholders), realizado en Brasil, México y Perú. Un componente cualitativo de este estudio se desarrolló con el objetivo de identificar los contextos sociales y estructurales que engloban y organizan la oferta de servicios de PrEP en Brasil, las subjetividades de los actores implicados y las diferentes percepciones que pueden impactar en hacer efectiva esa estrategia. El objetivo de este artículo es el análisis del acceso de las poblaciones vulnerables a los servicios de PrEP, desde la perspectiva de los gestores, profesionales de salud, líderes o activistas y usuarios de la PrEP. Se trata de un estudio cualitativo con uso de metodología comprensiva, realizado en seis capitales brasileñas, en las que fueron entrevistados 71 actores-clave, durante el período de noviembre de 2018 a mayo de 2019. El análisis se pautó mediante modelos analíticos sobre acceso, propuestos por Giovanella & Fleury, McIntyre et al. y Penchansky & Thomas. Los resultados se presentan a partir de tres ejes: “percepciones sobre prevención combinada y PrEP”, “disponibilidad y adecuación: perfil y estructura de los servicios en el contexto de la ImPrEP” y “aceptabilidad: actitudes y prácticas de los profesionales de salud y usuarios”.

Resumo: A profilaxia pré-exposição ao HIV (PrEP) tem sido considerada uma estratégia fundamental para o controle da epidemia de HIV/aids, e desde 2018 tem sido objeto de estudo de implementação (Estudo ImPrEP Stakeholders), realizado no Brasil, no México e no Peru. Um componente qualitativo desse estudo foi desenvolvido com o objetivo de identificar os contextos sociais e estruturais que envolvem e organizam a oferta de serviços de PrEP no Brasil, as subjetividades dos atores envolvidos e as diferentes percepções que podem impactar a efetivação dessa estratégia. O presente artigo teve como foco de análise o acesso das populações vulneráveis aos serviços de PrEP, na perspectiva de gestores, profissionais de saúde, lideranças ou ativistas e usuários de PrEP. É um estudo qualitativo com o uso de metodologia compreensiva, realizado em seis capitais brasileiras, em que foram entrevistados 71 atores-chave no período de novembro de 2018 a maio de 2019. A análise foi pautada pelos modelos analíticos sobre acesso propostos por Giovanella & Fleury, McIntyre et al. e Penchansky & Thomas. Os resultados são apresentados com base em três eixos: “percepções sobre prevenção combinada e PrEP”; “disponibilidade e adequação: perfil e estrutura dos serviços no contexto do ImPrEP”; e “aceitabilidade: atitudes e práticas dos profissionais de saúde e usuários”.

Abstract: HIV preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) has been considered a fundamental strategy for controlling the HIV/AIDS epidemic, and since 2018 it has been the object of an implementation study (ImPrEP Stakeholders Study), conducted in Brazil, México, and Peru. A qualitative component of this study was developed with the objective of identifying the social and structural contexts that involve and organize the supply of PrEP services in Brazil, the stakeholders’ subjectivities, and the different perceptions that can impact the strategy’s implementation. The current article’s focus was to analyze access by vulnerable populations to PrEP services from the perspective of managers, health professionals, leaders or activists, and users of PrEP. This was a qualitative study using a comprehensive methodology, conducted in six Brazilian state capitals, interviewing 71 key actors from November 2018 to May 2019. The analysis was based on access analysis models as proposed by Giovanella & Fleury, McIntyre et al. and Penchansky & Thomas. The results are presented along three lines: “perceptions of combined prevention and PrEP”, “availability and adequacy: profile and structure of services in the context of ImPrEP”, and “acceptability: attitudes and practices of health professionals and users”.

Resumen: La profilaxis preexposición al VIH (PrEP) ha sido considerada una estrategia fundamental para el control de la epidemia de VIH/sida y desde 2018 ha sido objeto de estudio de implementación (Estudio ImPrEP Stakeholders), realizado en Brasil, México y Perú. Un componente cualitativo de este estudio se desarrolló con el objetivo de identificar los contextos sociales y estructurales que engloban y organizan la oferta de servicios de PrEP en Brasil, las subjetividades de los actores implicados y las diferentes percepciones que pueden impactar en hacer efectiva esa estrategia. El objetivo de este artículo es el análisis del acceso de las poblaciones vulnerables a los servicios de PrEP, desde la perspectiva de los gestores, profesionales de salud, líderes o activistas y usuarios de la PrEP. Se trata de un estudio cualitativo con uso de metodología comprensiva, realizado en seis capitales brasileñas, en las que fueron entrevistados 71 actores-clave, durante el período de noviembre de 2018 a mayo de 2019. El análisis se pautó mediante modelos analíticos sobre acceso, propuestos por Giovanella & Fleury, McIntyre et al. y Penchansky & Thomas. Los resultados se presentan a partir de tres ejes: “percepciones sobre prevención combinada y PrEP”, “disponibilidad y adecuación: perfil y estructura de los servicios en el contexto de la ImPrEP” y “aceptabilidad: actitudes y prácticas de los profesionales de salud y usuarios”.

ABSTRACT Knowledge about HIV transmission and prevention is a necessary step for adopting preventive behaviors. We assessed HIV knowledge and its correlation with the perceived accuracy of the “Undetectable = Untransmittable” (U=U) slogan in an online sample with 401 adult Brazilians. Overall, 28% of participants showed high HIV knowledge level. The perceived accuracy of the U=U slogan significantly correlated with HIV knowledge. Younger participants, those reporting lower income or lower education, or who had never tested for HIV showed poorer HIV knowledge. Filling gaps of knowledge among specific populations is urgent in order to increase preventive behaviors and decrease HIV stigma.

ABSTRACT Knowledge about HIV transmission and prevention is a necessary step for adopting preventive behaviors. We assessed HIV knowledge and its correlation with the perceived accuracy of the “Undetectable = Untransmittable” (U=U) slogan in an online sample with 401 adult Brazilians. Overall, 28% of participants showed high HIV knowledge level. The perceived accuracy of the U=U slogan significantly correlated with HIV knowledge. Younger participants, those reporting lower income or lower education, or who had never tested for HIV showed poorer HIV knowledge. Filling gaps of knowledge among specific populations is urgent in order to increase preventive behaviors and decrease HIV stigma.

Mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection remains an important cause of new HIV infections worldwide, especially in low and middle-resource limited countries. Safety data from studies involving pregnant women and prenatal antiretroviral (ARV) exposure are still needed once these studies are often small and with a limited duration to assess adverse drug reactions (ADR). The aim of this study was to estimate the incidence of ADR related to the use of antiretroviral therapy (ART) in pregnant women in two referral centers in Rio de Janeiro State. A prospective study was carried out from February 2005 to May 2006. Women were classified according to their ART status during pregnancy diagnosis: ARV-experienced (ARTexp) or ARV-naïve (ARTn). Two hundred fourteen HIV-infected pregnant women were included: 36 ARTexp and 178 ARTn. ARTexp women have not experienced ADR. Among ARTn, 20.2% presented ADR. Incidence rate of ADR was 70.8 per 1000 person-months and the most common ADRs observed were: gastrointestinal (belly or abdominal cramps, diarrhea, nausea and vomit) in 16.3%, cutaneous (pruritus and rash) in 6.2%, anemia (2.2%) and hepatitis (1.7%). The frequency of obstetrical complications, pre-term delivery, low birth weight and birth abnormalities was low in this population. ADRs ranged from mild to moderate intensity, none of them being potentially fatal. Only in a few cases it was necessary to discontinue ART. In conclusion, the high effectiveness of ARV for HIV prevention of MTCT (PMTCT) overcomes the risk of ADR.

Toxicity is the most frequently reported reason for modifying or discontinuing the first combined antiretroviral therapy regimens, and it can cause significant morbidity, poor quality of life and also can be an important barrier to adherence, ultimately resulting in treatment failure and viral resistance. Elderly patients with HIV/AIDS (≥50 years) may have a different profile in terms of treatment modification due to higher incidence of comorbidities and polypharmacy. The aim of this study was to describe the incidence of modifying or discontinuing first combined antiretroviral therapy regimen due to toxicity (TOX-MOD) during the first year of treatment at the IPEC – FIOCRUZ HIV/AIDS cohort, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, stratified by age. Demographic, clinical and treatment characteristics from antiretroviral-naïve patients who first received combined antiretroviral therapy between Jan/1996 and Dec/2010 were collected. Incidence rate and confidence interval of each event were estimated using quasipoisson model. To estimate hazard ratio (HR) of TOX-MOD during the first year of combined antiretroviral therapy Cox's proportional hazards regression was applied. Overall, 1558 patients were included; 957 (61.4%), 420 (27.0%) and 181 (11.6%) were aged <40, 40–49, and ≥50 years, respectively. 239 (15.3%) events that led to any modifying or discontinuing within the first year of treatment were observed; 228 (95.4%) of these were TOX-MOD, corresponding to an incidence rate of 16.6/100 PY (95% CI: 14.6–18.9). The most frequent TOX-MOD during first combined antiretroviral therapy regimen were hematologic (59; 26.3%), central nervous system (47; 20.9%), rash (42; 19.1%) and gastrointestinal (GI) (38; 16.7%). In multivariate analysis, incidence ratio of TOX-MOD during the first year of combined antiretroviral therapy progressively increases with age, albeit not reaching statistical significance. This profile was maintained after adjusting the model for sex, combined antiretroviral therapy regimen and year of combined antiretroviral therapy initiation. These results are important because not only patients are living longer and aging with HIV, but also new diagnoses are being made among the elderly. Prospective studies are needed to evaluate the safety profile of first line combined antiretroviral therapy on elderly individuals, especially in resource-limited countries, where initial regimens are mostly NNRTI-based.

The worldwide elderly population is expected to grow by an additional 694 million people by 2025. By that time, there will be approximately two billion elderly people in the world, most of whom (80%) will be living in developing countries. Based on recent estimates, this population will number over 40 million in 2030 in Brazil and a consequent increase in governmental spending for this population can be expected. Since highly active antiretroviral therapy became available in the mid-1990s, the life expectancy of people living with HIV has increased significantly. Approximately 12 million life years were added to the world between 1996 and 2008 as a consequence of wider access to highly active antiretroviral therapy. In Brazil, the incidence of AIDS among the population aged >50 years doubled between 1996 and 2006. The development of antiretroviral therapy has allowed individuals diagnosed at a younger age to live longer, which partially explains the aging tendency associated with the HIV/AIDS epidemic. It is estimated that by 2015, subjects aged >50 years will represent 50% of the people living with HIV undergoing clinical treatment. This scenario presents some challenges, including the fact that the diagnosis of HIV tends to be delayed in older patients compared to younger patients because the symptoms of HIV can be confused with those of other common diseases among the elderly and also because healthcare professionals do not consider this population to be at high risk for HIV infection. In regard to the individuals diagnosed with HIV, a further challenge is presented by the morbidity normally associated with aging. Finally, the elderly also exhibit higher susceptibility to the toxic effects and pharmacological interactions of medications. The present article reviews the literature regarding the profile of HIV infection among individuals aged >50 years focusing on practical features related to the clinical approach and long-term follow-up of this population.

The introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy during the 1990s was crucial to the decline in the rates of morbidity and death related to the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and turned human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection into a chronic condition. Consequently, the HIV/AIDS population is becoming older. The aim of this study was to describe the immunological, clinical and comorbidity profile of an urban cohort of patients with HIV/AIDS followed up at Instituto de Pesquisa Clinica Evandro Chagas, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Retrospective data from 2307 patients during January 1st, 2008 and December 31st, 2008 were collected. For continuous variables, Cuzick's non-parametric test was used. For categorical variables, the Cochran-Armitage non-parametric test for tendency was used. For all tests, the threshold for statistical significance was set at 5%. In 2008, 1023 (44.3%), 823 (35.7%), 352 (15.3%) and 109 (4.7%) were aged 18-39, 40-49, 50-59 and >60 years-old, respectively. Older and elderly patients (>40 years) were more likely to have viral suppression than younger patients (18-39 years) (p 0.001). No significant difference in the latest CD4+ T lymphocyte count in the different age strata was observed, although elderly patients (> 50 years) had lower CD4+ T lymphocyte nadir (p 0.02). The number of comorbidities increased with age and the same pattern was observed for the majority of the comorbidities, including diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, erectile dysfunction, HCV, renal dysfunction and also for non-AIDSrelated cancers (p 0.001). With the survival increase associated to successful antiretroviral therapy and with the increasing new infections among elderly group, the burden associated to the diagnosis and treatment of the non-AIDS related HIV comorbidities will grow. Longitudinal studies on the impact of aging on the HIV/AIDS population are still necessary, especially in resource-limited countries.