The Global iPrEx Study: preparing for study results
19 November 2010At a time when vaccine research has had such discouraging results, this is the big question that waits to be answered. The Desmond Tutu HIV Foundation(DTHF) is the only African site involved in a world wide study assessing if Truvada®, a medication used to treat those living with HIV, can also prevent the transmission of HIV in men who have sex with men. It is called the PrEP study (pre-exposure prophylaxis). The results of this important study are due to be released shortly – the date is still to be announced.
Taking drugs to prevent infection has been used effectively in other diseases such as malaria. Nevirapine® taken by HIV positive pregnant mothers shortly before giving birth has reduced HIV transmission from mother to child by around 75%. Our hope is that using ‘treatment as prevention' in uninfected people at high risk will be successful and provide a new strategy to combat the epidemic.
There are 88 men taking part in the PrEP study at the DTHF Clinical Trials Unit in Cape Town with a total of 2,499 men participating from sites in South America, the United States and Thailand. The men have received either Truvada® or a placebo once a day while also being provided with condoms and safe sex counselling.
Additional studies assessing the prevention of the transmission of HIV through taking drugs are taking place amongst people at high risk including heterosexual women. These are currently in the field or in preparation. The PrEP study will be the first to close and issue their results.
These results will be announced similtaneously from all four sites around the world. The Desmond Tutu HIV Foundation has been privileged to be the only site in Africa. Should the findings be positive this will be a significant step forward in controlling the spread of HIV amongst vulnerable groups.
Following on the promising results of the CIPRA study in KwaZulu Natal announced in July 2010, South Africa is at the cutting edge of HIV research.
For more information contact Dr Andrew Scheibe at andrew.sheibe@hiv-research.org.za
