The hope for the millions sufferings from AIDS, is naturally the coming of new drugs to treat their infection and alleviate them from the threat of unnatural death. The people who are contracted with a highly resistant strain of HIV world-wide could benefit from a new drug Raltegravir to treat the infection, according to UNSW research.
The study conducted at UNSW’s National Centre in HIV Epidemiology and Clinical Research (NCHECR), shows that the majority of patients who have not responded to traditional retroviral treatments will have good results from a new combination therapy involving raltegravir. The results were based on analyses of viral load reductions and CD4 cell count increase. A high CD4 cell count is crucial for a healthy immune system.
The overall results have been drawn from two major ongoing clinical trials in Europe, Asia, Australia and North and South America. Merck & Co, Inc., the manufacturer of raltegravir, supported both studies.
Raltegravir is already available in Australia and was listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme on July 1st. The clinical trials result shows that it is safe, effective and with minimal side effects when used with other anti-HIV medicines. It has also been observed that raltegravir lowers the amount of virus in the blood to undetectable levels in 62 percent of the people taking it in combination with other anti-HIV medicines.
This is the first drug in a new class of antiretroviral drugs called integrase inhibitors. The drug has a different mechanism of action and is very potent. It also seems to be helpful for patients who have a virus that is resistant to older drug class.
The manufacturers initially wants this to market in developed countries, but hopefully it will be made available at cheaper prices for patients in developing countries who are facing the same problems.