Health Conditions

What is on the horizon?

Different combinations of new and existing drugs are being studied to find the best possible treatments for HIV. Also, the time it takes to discover, develop, and make new drugs available to patients with HIV/AIDS has been shortened considerably over the last 10 years. AIDS patients now have access to the latest breakthroughs more quickly than ever before.

The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers Association lists nearly two dozen new anti-HIV drugs now in development. They include new, more potent, less toxic reverse transcriptase inhibitors. There are currently two new non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTI) being studied under the code names: TMC-125 and TMC-278. TMC-125 is being studied for its potent antiviral activity and for the use in those who have developed resistance against other NNRTIs, whereas, TMC-278 is being studied for its use in those individuals who have high genetic resistance to other antiretrovirals. Currently, TMC-125 is available through Tibotec?s expanded access program.

Although there is a rise in the number of HIV/AIDS individuals who either have a resistant strain of the virus or who have developed resistance to one or more antiretroviral drugs, research for new drugs is always ongoing and promising.

Other new therapies are targeted at inhibiting HIV in different stages of its life cycle. DNA profiling is being used to manufacture drugs aimed at interfering with any of HIV's nine known genes. Experts caution it is extremely unlikely that any one of these new drugs could be used solely in the treatment of AIDS. However, if these agents have improved safety or efficacy profiles, treatment regimens may be simplified and more tolerable.

A new prevention therapy is also being developed. Microbicides are currently being studied for the prevention of HIV in females. This new therapy is inserted before sexual intercourse, but it does not appear to be as effective as latex condoms for HIV prevention.

In addition, research continues to focus on developing and testing potential HIV vaccines and searching for a cure. The goal is to develop a vaccine that can protect people from HIV, or at least decrease the risk of getting HIV or AIDS if people are exposed to the virus. This type of vaccine is called a preventive vaccine. Another type of vaccine, referred to as a therapeutic vaccine, is being designed to help boost the immune system of people who already have HIV/AIDS so that they may better fight the infection. Several vaccines are currently being tested in clinical trials; however, these studies are in the very early stages and it will take many years to determine whether the vaccines are safe and effective. According to the timeline provided by the HIV Vaccine Trials network, large scale trials will be conducted during 2010 and 2011 to test the preventative vaccines.