BRIDGEWATER, N.J., Oct. 15 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ -- In support of National Latino AIDS Awareness Day, Tibotec Therapeutics is launching a new initiative to expand its commitment to raising awareness of HIV/AIDS issues in the Latino community. The company is sharing findings from the GRACE (Gender, Race And Clinical Experience) study, the largest clinical study to date in North American women previously treated with HIV medications (treatment-experienced) to compare gender differences in the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of an HIV medication as part of combination therapy.

In addition, Tibotec is hosting a series of local patient education events in which a panel of patients, physicians, and advocates will discuss the design of the GRACE study and what the HIV community can learn from it.

"National Latino AIDS Awareness Day gives us an opportunity to look at racial disparities in the treatment of HIV/AIDS and search for solutions to help break down barriers in education and access to quality care," said Guillermo Chacon Interim Executive Director of the Latino Commission on AIDS. "Studies like GRACE show us that managing HIV takes more than just treatment-it also requires finding a network of support through family, friends, community, health care professionals and treatment education."

In the United States, HIV/AIDS is on the rise among women and people of color. Today, women account for more than one-quarter of all new HIV/AIDS diagnoses, and African-American and Latina women represent 79 percent of women living with the disease. Overall, 65 percent of people living with HIV in the United States are people of color. Despite these staggering statistics, women and people of color are under-represented in clinical treatment studies, often due to barriers such as availability of child care, lack of transportation, financial burden, and stigma.

Latinos, in particular, may face certain challenges when it comes to HIV treatment and prevention. For example, the rates of sexually transmitted diseases, which can increase the chances of contracting HIV, are higher for Hispanics/Latinos than for other groups. In addition, more than 1 in 5 Hispanics/Latinos live in poverty. Problems associated with poverty, including unemployment, a lack of formal education, inadequate or lack of health insurance, and limited access to high-quality health care, can increase the risk for HIV infection.

The GRACE study enrolled 67 ...