New HIV drug a shot in the arm in fight against the disease: Doctors
While the fight against HIV appears to be growing stronger, efforts are under way globally in conducting research and finding breakthroughs to provide better cure to HIV patients. As a result of one such effort, a new drug was recently approved by the top drug regulatory for HIV patients in India.
By : migrator
Update: 2017-09-19 20:06 GMT
Chennai
Explaining further, Dr Kumarasamy, Chief Medical Officer, YRG Care Centre for Aids Research and Education (YRGCARE), said, “The launch of the new drug with reduced side-effects at a price lower than the other available first-line Antiretroviral (ARV) drugs, is a shot in the arm for the massive efforts being made by various stakeholders engaged in the fight against this deadly infection for years.”
According to him, “Efavirenz is a component for first-line ART regimen, for its proven effectiveness in reducing viral load to below 400 copies/mL in six months in most of the patients who are taking HIV medication for the first time. However, it also causes multiple side effects. The new ARV drug on the other hand, has reduced dosage of 400 mg of Efavirenz and shows the same efficacy as that of those with 600 mg Efavirenz.”
Stating that medication adherence is essential for HIV-infected patients, Dr Priyadarshini, a physician, said, “Adherence to medication means following the prescribed HIV regimen strictly, or in other words, patients need to take HIV medicines regularly and strictly, as prescribed. These medicines prevent the virus from multiplying and thereby avoid the destruction of the immune system. Adhering to ART also reduces the risk of drug resistance and treatment failure.”
In the fight against HIV, government and non-governmental organisations have focused on preventive measures, through campaigns and awareness programmes, which have been largely effective.
“Tamil Nadu has seen a decline of 70 to 81 per cent deaths due to HIV-AIDS, along with Karnataka and Maharashtra,” Dr Kumarasamy said, adding that a lot more needs to be done, especially in terms of removing the stigma associated with HIV. With approximately 25 lakh HIV patients, India is the third largest HIV-infected country in the world and therefore has a huge healthcare challenge to address, resulting in the need for increased efforts to fight against the infection.
As Tamil Nadu has a higher prevalence than the national average — with an estimated two lakh infected people — the launch of a new drug with reduced side-effects, has been welcomed by doctors across the state.
Huge burden
- India is the third largest HIV-infected country in the world.
- Tamil Nadu has a higher prevalence than the national average - with an estimated two lakh infected people.
- 4,397 people infected with HIV had died in 2016, pushing up the average increase in the number of deaths by 70 per cent from what it was till 2013.
- Doctors say the new drug has fewer side effects and is cheaper than the other available first-line Antiretroviral (ARV) drugs.
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