About 38 million people are infected with HIV, 70% live in sub-Saharan Africa. And it’s especially annoying because it shouldn’t be. Not just because they live in that part of the continent Only 12% of the world’s populationBut because over the years we have enough tools to control the infection, stop its spread and guarantee a normal life for infected people.
And the problem is that none of it reaches sub-Saharan Africa. None of this reaches women aged 15 to 24 Accounts for 63% of all new infections. Now Gilead, the same pharmaceutical company that developed it tamiflu (antiviral against the flu), a new treatment is being finalized may change significantly playground
What is PrEP? HIV vaccine has been One of the holy grails of contemporary medicine. But, over the years, all our efforts have come to naught. That’s why, decades ago, researchers began looking for other ways to manage and control infection (and disease).
At the beginning of 2010s, what we know as ‘Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis’ (PrEP) gave birth to HIV. Basically, in the preventive treatment of infections for at-risk populations. Furthermore, for a relatively simple implementation: it consists of Take a daily dose of antiretrovirals (Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate 300 mg + Emtricitabine 200 mg) and has an excellent result in stopping new diagnoses.
What is the problem? Why are cases increasing in Africa? Well, because “easy” in a country like Spain isn’t “easy” elsewhere in the world. In PrEP, adherence to treatment is important and from the beginning, As mentioned by Salim Abdul Karim“It’s not possible for a young woman who doesn’t think about HIV or isn’t aware of the risk to take a pill every day,” says director of the Center for AIDS Research Program in South Africa.
There are large areas of Africa where few people know their serological status, almost no infected people receive treatment, and of course, virtually no one can achieve viral suppression. Fighting HIV in this area is working blindly And without the majority of the local population understanding very well what you’re doing.
But the drama is even bigger when health workers get the population Understand the importance of prophylaxisIt is devilishly difficult to carry medicine everywhere and ensure its supply.
Here comes Gilead. That’s because a North American pharmaceutical company is working on a preventative treatment that only requires two annual injections to work. And it works very well. The latest data (from a phase III clinical trial of lencapavir) indicates that none of the 2,134 women who took the drug became infected with HIV.
The information is Much better than the current pill (16 of 1,068 taking Truvada narrowed it down and 39 of 2,136 using Descovy), but its importance goes further. Above all, because it will allow reaching more women than other methods.
It’s not a revolution, but we don’t need a revolution. What we need are treatments that are sensitive to people’s real circumstances. What we need is a steady effort to keep working and taking steps forward. In that sense, today is a great day.
Picture | CDC Global
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