Macaque Studies Find Potential AIDS Preventative Treatment
Recent studies in monkeys have found that a combination of two drugs already approved for use in humans and present in pharmacies everywhere, appear to help prevent HIV transmission.The two drugs are known as tenofovir and emtricitabine, appear to prevent transmission if taken prior to exposure. The scientists still don’t know the time frame that the drugs may need to be taken prior to exposure, or if they could be taken after exposure, but the investigation is still in early stages.
The drugs could be given to people at high risk for infection, including women in Africa, at risk of being infected by their HIV positive partners.
Six macaques were treated with the drug combination and exposed for 14 weeks to a combination of the human and monkey AIDS viruses. Not a single one contracted disease. On the other hand, all but one of the monkeys not treated, contracted AIDS.
Even after the drugs were stopped, (as well as the AIDS exposure), the monkeys have remained healthy and tested negative for AIDS. It looks like macaques may be helping scientists to find effective, preventative measures against HIV and AIDS!
posted by Kristina Cook at 8:08 PM
