Medicine lowers HIV risk among injecting drug users: study
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Daily intake of the anti-retroviral drug tenofovir significantly reduces the risk of HIV infection among injecting drug users, according to a joint Thai-US study.
The findings were announced at a press conference attended by Dr Kajit Chupanya, a former deputy Bangkok city clerk who heads the research project, and US Ambassador Kristie Kenney.
Kajit said the risk of HIV infections dropped by 74 per cent among those taking tenofovir every day.
“This is the first evidence of pre-exposure prophylaxis among injecting drug users,” he said. The findings from the research project were published in the online medical journal the Lancet.
Started in 2005, the project covers 2,413 participants. In this randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, some participants were given tenofovir.
The tenofovir-taking participants have had a much lower rate of HIV infections, the research project has found.
“We will continue to give tenofovir to the project’s volunteers for one more year after the project is completed,” Kajit said.
Kajit said the research project is a collaboration between the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Thailand’s Public Health Ministry.
Dr Supak Wanichsenee, a chief co-ordinator of the research project, said tenofovir was a prescription drug available in Thailand. One tablet costs about Bt40.
“This medicine has been imported from the US,” she said.
Kajit said he would consult with the US CDC further as to whether the project should be expanded in Thailand.
Deputy Bangkok City Clerk Dr Perapong Saichua said it was good news that there was now a way to reduce the risk of HIV infections.
However, he said one sure way to lower the risk of HIV infection was to get people to stop injecting drugs.
“Some participants have decided to quit drugs after the project’s staff educated them about the negative impacts of abusing drugs,” Perapong said.
