ISSN 2736-1748
African Journal of AIDS and HIV Research ISSN 2326-2691 Vol. 8 (3), pp. 001-008, March, 2020. © International Scholars Journals
Review
A better state of ART improving antiretroviral regimens to increase global access to HIV treatment
Matthew Barnhart1* and James Shelton2
1UNICEF Programme Division, Health Section, New York, New York, USA.
2USAID/Washington Bureau for Global Health, Washington DC, USA.
Accepted 04 October, 2019
Abstract
With 5.2 million people already receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) in low and middle-income countries and 33.4 million people estimated to be living with HIV globally, there is an urgent need to develop better antiretroviral (ARV) regimens that are less costly and less complex to implement than the current standard of care. We think it is technically possible to develop such improved regimens soon, and discuss some illustrative examples of how new ARVs and treatment simplification approaches might simultaneously improve outcomes and dramatically reduce costs. Such regimens would: 1) include new ARVs that are more tolerable, durable, and inexpensive to manufacture; 2) contain a reduced number of ARVs; and/or 3) be amenable to directly observed dosing on a weekly or a monthly-basis. However, success will not only require technical solutions, but also good will and mechanisms to foster collaboration within the international community. Therefore, we also suggest a few priority actions that interested parties can take to help expedite the widespread availability of better ARV regimens.
Key words: HIV treatment, antiretroviral drugs, manufacturing costs, corporate social responsibility, incentives for research and development.