Long-Acting/Extended Release (LA/ER) Antiretroviral Research Resource Program (LEAP) Investigator Meeting and Annual Workshop 2026:

Date: 
2/21/26

Saturday, February 21, 2026
Grand Hyatt
Dever, Colorado

The Long-Acting Extended Release Antiretroviral Research Resource Program (LEAP) virtually convened clinicians, investigators, developers, community advocacy groups, not-for-profit institutions and regulatory authorities. Attendees shared their diverse perspectives and discussed updates, challenges and future directions in the development of LA formulations. The meeting served as a forum to collectively advance the long-acting field. The Workshop consisted of four Plenary Sessions and four Focus Groups. Below, you’ll find links to video recordings and text summaries of the Plenary and Focus Group presentations. 

       •    View PDF of the full workshop proceedings 

       •    View key to abbreviations      

Carl Dieffenbach, Senior Advisor to the Office of the Director, Fogarty International Center
Welcome
[Opening remarks

Charles Flexner, Director, LEAP, Johns Hopkins University
Where are we LEAPing Next?!
Overview of Workshop
[Presentation]  

PLENARY SESSION 1 – ACCESS
Chair: Elaine Abrams, Columbia University

Francois Venter, Ezintsha
Global Access to Long-Acting Formulations for HIV: A Country Perspective
[Presentation]

Sunil Solomon,Johns Hopkins University
Considerations for the Development of Long-Acting Formulations for People Who Use Drugs
[Presentation]

Moherndran Archary, University of Kwazulu-Natal
Availability of LA Products for Children and Adolescents: When?
[Presentation]

Imelda Mahaka, Pangea Zimbabwe AIDS Trust | Ronald Ssenyonga, Makerere University
Global Access to Long-Acting Formulations for HIV: A Community Perspective –
Access Presentation & Panel Discussion
[Presentation]

Chair: Chloe Thio, JHU | Co-Chair: Jordan Feld, UHN Research | Rapporteur: Monica Gandhi, UCSF
Focus Group 1 Report-Back
Best Practices for Managing HIV/HBV Co-infection in Those Starting or Switching to LA HIV Treatment
[Presentation]

ALL
PANEL DISCUSSION
[Presentation]

PLENARY SESSION 2 – Products
Chair: Paul Domanico, Clinton Health Access Initiative

Roger Ptak, NIH
Preclinical Development of Long-Acting Anti-Infective Drugs and Formulations Supported by NIH 
[Presentation]

Chris Vinnard, Gates Medical Research Institute
Long-Acting Injectable Agents as Tools to End TB: An Overview of Activities Supported by the Gates Medical Research Institute
[Presentation]

David Thomas, Johns Hopkins University
LONGEVITY Formulation Development for HCV and TB 
[Presentation]

Rodney Ho, University of Washington
TLC-ART All-in-One Drug-Combination Products for LA HIV Treatment 
[Presentation]

Huub Gelderblom, HIV Vaccine Trials Network
Broadly Neutralizing Monoclonal Antibodies for HIV Treatment and Prevention: Why We Should Be Excited
[Presentation]

Daniel Kuritzkes, Harvard University
Broadly Neutralizing Monoclonal Antibodies for HIV Treatment and Prevention: Why We Should Be Cautious
[Presentation]

ALL
REBUTTALS AND DISCUSSION
[Presentation]

PLENARY SESSION 3 – Products
Chair: Kimberly Scarsi, University of Nebraska Medical Center

Lionel Tan, ViiV Healthcare | Alex Rinehart, ViiV Healthcare
Current Status of the ViiV LA/ER Pipeline
[Presentation]

Luisa Stamm, Merck
Current Status of the Merck LA/ER Pipeline   
[Presentation]

Moupali Das, Gilead Sciences | Martin Rhee, Gilead Sciences
Current Status of the Gilead LA/ER Pipeline
[Presentation]

Vivian Cox, Johnson & Johnson
Current Status of the J&J Tuberculosis LA/ER Pipeline
[Presentation]

Chair: Brian Kearney, Exavir Therapeutics | Co-Chair: Paul Domanico, CHAI | Rapporteur: Keith Crawford, NIH
Focus Group 2 Report-Back
Getting from Preclinical Discovery and Development to Industry Collaboration—Bridging the “Valley of Death”
[Presentation]

ViiV, Merck, Gilead, J&J & Generic Representatives
Industry Roundtable
[Presentation]

PLENARY SESSION 4 – Implementation
Chair: David Thomas, Johns Hopkins University

Chair: Sinead Delany-Moretlwe, Wits RHI | Co-Chair: Angela Colbers, Radboud UMC | Rapporteur: Ethel Weld, JHU
Focus Group 3 Report-Back
Ending the HIV Epidemic—Is Lenacapavir the Answer?
[Presentation]

Geri Donenberg, NIH
What Is Implementation Science, and What Is Its Role in the NIH Research Portfolio?
[Presentation]

Mike Reid, PEPFAR
The New PEPFAR: Implications for LA Treatment and Prevention
[Presentation]

José Bauermeister, University of Pennsylvania
Introduction to the LEAP User Preferences Core
[Presentation]

Chair: José Bauermeister | Co-Chair: Rachel Bender Ignacio | Rapporteur: Karine Dubé
Focus Group 4 Report-Back
User Preferences Research—Specific Aims and Strategic Plans
[Presentation]

SUMMARY AND ADJOURNMENT

ALL
NEXT STEPS
[Presentation]

Charles Flexner, Director, LEAP, Johns Hopkins University
Final Discussion and Adjournment
[Presentation]