The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) continues to spread around the world, mainly through sex. Despite advances in treatment, preventing infection is still the great challenge ahead. In the absence of an effective vaccine and after the repeated failures of vaginal microbicide gels, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), the taking of drugs before being exposed to the virus, is considered one of the most promising strategies for achieving this goal . A new study in monkeys showed that intermittent therapy before contacting HIV is effective.
The researchers, from the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, USA), exposed the macaques to simian immunodeficiency virus (SHIV) modified to be as identical as possible to HIV. In different groups were given different doses of antiretroviral drugs and at different times to see what combination offered the best protection. (more…)
