A Timeline

Gay Men’s Health Crisis, the first community-based aIDS service provider in the U.S., established in New York City.

People living with AIDS (PWAs) take over plenary state at a U.S. conference and issue statement on the rights of PWAs referred to as “”.

Ryan White, an Indiana teenager with AIDS, is barred from school; goes on to speak out publicly against AIDS stigma and discrimination.

American Foundation for AIDS Research (afAR) founded by Co-Chairs Mathilde Krim and Michael S. Gottlieb, and National Chair Elizabeth Taylor.

AZT, the first drug used to treat HIV/AIDS, begins clinical trials.

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation create “AIDS Health Services Program,” providing funding to hard hit U.S. cities; program is precursor to Ryan White CARE Act.

U.S. FDA sanctions first human testing of candidate vaccine against HIV.

U.S. Congress adopts Helms Amendment banning use of federal funds for AIDS education materials that “promote or encourage, directly or indirectly, homosexual activities,” often referred to as the “no promoto homo” policy.

ACT UP demonstrates at U.S. FDA headquarters in protest of slow pace of drug approval process.

U.S. Health Omnibus Programs Extensions (HOPE) Act of 1988 authorizes use of federal funds for HIV/AIDS prevention, education, and testing.

Head of NIH’s National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), Dr. Anthony Fauci, endorses parallel track policy, giving those that do not qualify for clinical trials access to experimental treatments.

U.S. FDA approves use of AZT for pediatric AIDS.

Red ribbon introduced as international symbol of AIDS awareness at Tony Awards by Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS and Visual AIDS.

U.S. FDA licenses first rapid HIV test, which provides results in a little as ten minutes.

U.S. Congress enats NIH Revitalization Act, giving the OAR primary oversight of all NIH AIDS research; requires NIH and other research agencies to expand involvement of women and minorities in all research. President Clinton signs HIV immigration exclusion policy into law as part of the same law.

U.S. FDA approves oral HIV test, first non-blood based antibody test for HIV.

First White House Conference on HIV/AIDS held.

U.S. FDA approves first non-nuclease reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI), nevirapine.

U.S. FDA approves Combivir, a tablet combining two ARV drugs, making it easier for people living with HIV to take medication.

U.S. HHS Secretary Shalala determines needles exchange programs to be effective and do not encourage use of illegal drugs, but Clinton Administration does not lift ban on use of federal funds for such purposes.

U.S. CDC reports that among men who have sex with men in the U.S., African-American and Latino cases exceed those among whites.

U.S. Congress reauthorizes the Ryan White CARE Act for the second time.

First National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day in U.S.

U.S. FDA approves OraQuick Rapid HIV-1 Antibody Test; first rapid test to use finger prick. OraQuick granted Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) waiver in 2003, enabling test to be performed outside of laboratory, allowing more widespread use.

First National Latino AIDS Awareness Day in U.S.

U.S. HHS announces expedited review process by U.S. FDA for fixed does combination and co-packages products; to be used by the U.S. in purchasing medications under PEPFAR.

First Indian drug manufacturer (Ranbaxy) gains U.S. FDA approval to produce generic antiretroviral for PEPFAR.

First National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day in US.

U.S. CDC releases new HIV incidence estimates for U.S., showing that the U.S. epidemic is worse than previously thought.

U.S. Congress eliminates long-standing statutory ban on use of federal function for needle exchanges in U.S., with caveats.

U.S. Congress reinstates decades-long ban on federal funding for needle exchanges only two years after eliminating the same ban.

U.S. FDA approves the use of Truvada (emtricitabine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate) for reducing risk of HIV infection in uninfected individuals at high risk, marking the first HIV treatment to be approved for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP).

Finding from “Strategic Timing of AntiRetroviral Treatment” (START) study released; show starting antiretroviral treatment early improves health outcomes for people with HIV.