Studies show success in HIV drugs for prevention
AFP, Vancouver :
Despite evidence that taking powerful anti-HIV drugs can help protect uninfected partners from contracting the virus that causes AIDS, the therapy is far from becoming routinely prescribed, scientists said on Monday.
The practice, known as pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP, means that a healthy person who engages in sex with an HIV-positive partner takes anti-retroviral drugs daily as a preventive measure to ward off HIV.
Experts say the regime is effective, and carries minimal side effects.
“Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a game changer” in preventing the spread of HIV, said US researcher Chris Beyrer, co-chair of the International AIDS Society (IAS) science conference in this western Canadian city.
“The data is overwhelming… it works when it’s taken.”
At the conference, scientists released results on PrEP in several small studies of people at a high risk of contracting HIV, mostly due to sexual behavior, in Brazil, the United States, and Botswana.
The research showed that when PrEP is used correctly, it reduces HIV infection and is well-tolerated.
Despite evidence that taking powerful anti-HIV drugs can help protect uninfected partners from contracting the virus that causes AIDS, the therapy is far from becoming routinely prescribed, scientists said on Monday.
The practice, known as pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP, means that a healthy person who engages in sex with an HIV-positive partner takes anti-retroviral drugs daily as a preventive measure to ward off HIV.
Experts say the regime is effective, and carries minimal side effects.
“Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a game changer” in preventing the spread of HIV, said US researcher Chris Beyrer, co-chair of the International AIDS Society (IAS) science conference in this western Canadian city.
“The data is overwhelming… it works when it’s taken.”
At the conference, scientists released results on PrEP in several small studies of people at a high risk of contracting HIV, mostly due to sexual behavior, in Brazil, the United States, and Botswana.
The research showed that when PrEP is used correctly, it reduces HIV infection and is well-tolerated.
