SOUTH AFRICA: South African government rolls out single dose anti-AIDs drug

Record ID: 402424

  • Title: SOUTH AFRICA: South African government rolls out single dose anti-AIDs drug
  • Date: 16th April 2013
  • Summary: PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA (RECENT) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF SIGN READING: "PHEDISONG CLINIC" EXTERIOR OF CLINIC PATIENTS INSIDE CLINIC CATHERINE CHIMUKA, HIV/AIDS PROJECT MANAGER AT CLINIC SPEAKING TO A PATIENT CHIMUKA HOLDING ATROIZA, THE ONE A DAY PILL FOR AIDS PATIENTS ATROIZA ON THE TABLE POSTER READING: "ONE ARV PILL A DAY" (SOUNDBITE) (English) CATHERINE CHIMUKA, HIV/AI
  • Embargoed: 1st May 2013 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: South Africa
  • Country: South Africa
  • Topics: Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA6FBTIQOZQWLTEHHQCV3XI9DF2
  • Story Text: The South African government has rolled out a single dose anti-AIDs drug that is aimed at simplifying the treatment regime for people living with the HIV virus in the country.
    The tablet known as Atroiza is a three-in-one combination antiretroviral (ARV) and was unveiled two weeks ago at Phedisong Clinic in Pretoria. Patients ordinarily took four tablets a day.
    AIDS is caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which is transmitted through bodily fluids from an infected person.
    The condition gradually destroys the immune system, making it harder for the body to fight infections.
    ARV drugs boost the body's ability to deal with the opportunistic infections caused by AIDS.
    Catherine Chimuka the HIV/AIDS project manager at Phedisong clinic says Atroiza will make taking life prolonging drugs less of a burden for patients.
    "Instead of taking a bulk of treatment, you know the patients will only take seven, if she is going to spend seven days in London, she will only take seven tablets along and this is going to reduce a lot of stigma attached to this, the other thing that will reduce stigma is education, you have to educate the community about accepting those who are infected with HIV unconditionally," said Catherine Chimuka while attending to a patient.
    Failure to follow prescribed HIV therapy can cause drug resistance, higher viral loads and disease progression.
    South Africa has nearly 6 million people infected with HIV -- one of the heaviest caseloads in the world. It also has one of largest treatment programs.
    The ministry of health says the current regimen of swallowing various tablets at a go is expensive and unsustainable.
    Atroiza is a cheaper option, the government will spend 10 US dollars a patient per month, down from 43 US dollars.
    Domestic and international pharmaceutical companies have been contracted to manufacture the all-in-one drug.
    Health experts say the one-tablet dose will improve compliance and reduce the risk of patients none compliance with treatment dosage, as well as reduce side effects associated with taking a cocktail of pills.
    "The main aim of this FDC (Fixed Drug Combination) drug is to improve adherence, reduce the toxicity of the drugs and also to improve the clinical outcome," said Dimakatso Boikhutso, a doctor at Phedisong Clinic.
    In the first three-month phase, the Atroiza will mostly be given to new patients, pregnant women and breast-feeding women, because the pill prevents mother-to-baby infection.
    From June this year, all other stable, non-complicated patients will be switched to Fixed Drug Combination (FDC), after consultation with their clinicians.
    Even if the release of Atroiza has been welcome by health practitioners, Andrew musani a HIV/AIDS activist says the drug might not work for everyone.
    "It's a good drug, we welcomed it nationally at TAC (Treatment Action Campaign), we applauded the minister and we thanked him for this drug but still we need an alternative drug for this, because this drug contains ternofovil, there are people and patients out there who will not be able to take it due to renal failure or kidney failure, so those who have kidney problems will not be able to take it," said Musani.
    Currently, 1.7 million patients are on ARV treatment and the government hopes to expand this to 2.5 million by the end of 2014.
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