HIV treatment could reach millions more people

Findings presented by researchers from the University of New South Wales at the 7th International AIDS Society Conference in Malaysia this week show that a lower daily dose of an important antiretroviral used to treat HIV is as safe and effective in suppressing the virus as the standard recommended dose.

“This has the potential to affect the treatment of millions of HIV positive people,” said UNSW Professor Sean Emery, the protocol chairperson of the study, known as ENCORE1 (Evaluation of Novel Concepts in Optimization of antiRetroviral Efficacy) and Head of the Therapeutic and Vaccine Research Program at the Kirby Institute.

“A reduced daily dose should translate into a lower cost of treatment and permit more effective and efficient use of healthcare resources. Essentially, more people could receive this life-saving treatment for the same amount of funding.”

ENCORE1, which began in 2010 and will conclude in 2014, has involved 630 HIV-positive people from 13 countries in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe and Latin America.

Half of trial participants took two-thirds of the current standard daily dose of the antiretroviral efavirenz, a commonly used treatment for HIV. The other half took the standard daily dose. Study participants were observed regularly for a year.

The results indicate that a reduction in daily dose of one third is safe and effective compared to the higher dose currently recommended for people with HIV infection.

The research was part of a program funded with a grant of US$12.42 million from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

More information is available about the ENCORE studies.