via Global Post, by Emily Judem
WASHINGTON, DC—During the 1996 International AIDS Conference in Vancouver, Dr. David Ho announced that HIV could be suppressed to undetectable levels if patients took a “cocktail” of anti-retroviral drugs.
But in the years that followed, ARV distribution was also met with criticism, said Mitchell Warren, director of AVAC, a non-profit that advocates for HIV prevention programs.
“People said we can’t do treatment,” Warren said. “Too expensive. Not feasible. No one’s going to take their pill. What about drug resistance?”
For those who have attended sessions about pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) this week at the 2012 International AIDS conference, this might sound familiar.
When the FDA approved Truvada as a preventative drug against HIV on July 16 this year, leaders of the AIDS fight and news outlets alike began posing questions. How will it be decided who takes the drug? How will the drug be distributed? How will we lower the price tag? Should we be concerned that those taking Truvada will stop using condoms and protecting themselves in other ways?
Read the rest.
[Content that is linked from other sources is for informational purposes and should not construe a Mapping Pathways position. Please look for us on Facebook here www.facebook.com/MappingPathways and you can follow us on Twitter @mappingpathways as well.]
WASHINGTON, DC—During the 1996 International AIDS Conference in Vancouver, Dr. David Ho announced that HIV could be suppressed to undetectable levels if patients took a “cocktail” of anti-retroviral drugs.
Time Magazine named him “man of the year,” and according to Rolling Stone, he became the most famous AIDS scientist in the world.
“People said we can’t do treatment,” Warren said. “Too expensive. Not feasible. No one’s going to take their pill. What about drug resistance?”
For those who have attended sessions about pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) this week at the 2012 International AIDS conference, this might sound familiar.
When the FDA approved Truvada as a preventative drug against HIV on July 16 this year, leaders of the AIDS fight and news outlets alike began posing questions. How will it be decided who takes the drug? How will the drug be distributed? How will we lower the price tag? Should we be concerned that those taking Truvada will stop using condoms and protecting themselves in other ways?
Read the rest.
[Content that is linked from other sources is for informational purposes and should not construe a Mapping Pathways position. Please look for us on Facebook here www.facebook.com/MappingPathways and you can follow us on Twitter @mappingpathways as well.]
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