Tuesday, May 17, 2011

The press, scientific, public health and general public interest in the HPTV-052 results in becoming huge. I appeared on New Hour (interviewed alone by Ray Suarez) as well as NBC Today Show. Have done taped interviews with Mark Schoofs that will appear on the Website of WSJ. May 18-26, 2011 - Much activity and interest (real buzz) on part of global activists to use the 052 data to pressure the USA (Obama and USAID/PEPFAR) to increase funding and re-prioritize the emphasis on treatment since it is also prevention as well as emphasis those prevention modalities that have been scientifically proven to work such as circumcision (which is now effective at 68% at 40 months into the follow-up study in Rekai, Uganda). I am speaking mre openly on interview about pressing the administration to give more money. Feels like the old days of the beginning of PEPFAR when OMB ridiculed me for asking for so much money and then everything broke lose with PEPFAR. On May 26, I met at the headquarters of the WH Office of the Global AIDS Coordinator (OGAC) with Eric Goosby, Reinhard Schwartzlander (UNIADS), Carl Dieffenbach, Tom Frieden (by phone), Debbie Birx (CDC- GAP Prgram), people for USAID, and State. I made the argument that there is an elephant in the room and that is that we MUST put more resources into treatment since we now know that it is in fact prevention and we will either pay now or pay more later. Eric Goosby was so pleased that I backed what he really wants and needs but since he is a POTUS appointee, he cannot be too up front about. See below his email of May 26, 2011 to me after the meeting: Tony: You achieved what we needed for OMB and State leadership get a feel of the breakthrough and the context of the O52 findings, largely due to your clarity , candor and authenticity… thanks my friend Eric PERSONAL This email is UNCLASSIFIED.