Multi-resistant HIV strains have prompted Pharmac to fund two medicines that will help fight the human immunodeficiency virus.
Pharmac will fund darunavir (Prezista) and etravirine (Intelence) from November 1. Both the drugs are antiretroviral and are used to combat HIV – the infection that can lead to AIDS.
Pharmac medical director Dr Peter Moodie says the drugs are welcome additions to HIV treatment as the disease becomes resistant to other forms of antiviral treatment.
“Recent advances in drug therapy have seen HIV infection become largely a chronic condition that many people live with,” says Dr Moodie.
“However, we are now seeing strains of HIV that are resistant to multiple drug therapies. This makes the disease increasingly difficult to treat, and underscores the need for further treatment options.”
Dr Moodie says the right combination of antiviral therapies is key to combating HIV.
Pharmac currently funds 17 HIV treatments in five drug categories.
3 News
source: newshub archive
