Anti-retroviral 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 infection with the Aids virus 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 infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) 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 random, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, some participants were given tenofovir. They have had a much lower rate of HIV infections, the project found.
“We will continue to give tenofovir to the project’s volunteers for one more year after the project is completed,” Kajit said.
He said the research project was a collaboration between the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Thailand’s Public Health Ministry.
Dr Supak Wanichsenee, a chief coordinator 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 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 was to get people to stop injecting drugs.
“Some participants have decided to quit narcotics after the project’s staff educated them about the negative impacts of abusing drugs,” Perapong said.
