A new implant containing a drug
that reportedly protects against HIV infection for a full year has been
developed and tested.
Following clinical tests, the new
implant, which is produced by Merck, an American multinational pharmaceutical
company, was reported to have the potential to revolutionalize the
long-standing battle against the disease.
In the implant is a drug called
islatravir which is reported to be 10 times as potent as any previous HIV drug
such that tiny amounts are effective and linger in the body for relatively long
periods.
When the implant is used, the
Islatravir is absorbed into anal and genital tissues where most infections
start as the capsule slowly releases tiny doses of the medication.
The company announced the results
of a phase 1 trial of the implant on Tuesday, saying it was “well tolerated”
and effective at delivering an HIV-preventing medication.
During the drug’s research
description at an international AIDS conference held in Mexico City, Anthony
Fauci, director at National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said
a larger trial would, however, be needed for further confirmation.
“If — and I’m emphasizing if — if
it pans out in a larger trial that it delivers a level of drug that’s
protective for a year, that would be a game-changer,” the AIDS expert said.
“It seems ideal in many respects.
It can be removed if there are side effects or HIV infection,” added Robert
Grant, lead researcher at the University of California.
An estimated 75 million people
have contracted AIDS since the epidemic began and about 1.7 million people
become infected annually despite awareness about the need for condoms and
sexual abstinence as preventive measures.
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