The results of an 8-month study into injectable medication for HIV are out, and the news is good.
From GSK:
These results show that the investigational, long acting, injectable formulations of cabotegravir (ViiV Healthcare) and rilpivirine (Janssen) were comparable in maintaining viral suppression rates to a three drug oral regimen of investigational cabotegravir and two nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs).
Yes, the language is a bit dense, but what it means is that long-lasting, injectable versions of the drugs were just as effective in fighting HIV as a daily dose of them in pill form. Injectable medication could be the next frontier in fighting HIV, since adherence to HIV meds is crucial to keeping the virus at bay.
Furthermore, the injectable drugs don’t need to be taken as frequently as pill doses:
How about we take this to the next level?
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Viral suppression rates (plasma HIV-1 RNA
We recommend that you read the entire release, but it’s definitely an exciting new development in the battle against HIV/AIDS.
And for everyone out there wondering about injectable PrEP? Yep, that’s another tool that seems like it’s on the way.
BigG
This would be amazing for the hiv community. So thankful for science.
Ronnyboy
Yup that it is. This is the future of it. That way everyone uses it the right way. Injectables and implants will mean an effective end of this plague.
JerseyMike
Bravo!! great Idea.. maybe if there was a picture of a penis or a butt people come in and comment..
Billy Budd
I prefer pills, I hate and fear injections.
alphacentauri
@Billy Budd: Are you HIV+?
Bauhaus
Compliance seems to be an issue for almost everyone taking daily medication, so an injection sounds very exciting. From what I’ve read, those on PrEP would seem to greatly benefit, as skipping or forgetting a daily pill seems to be an issue for some users. Just like long-term birth-control, no more worries about forgetting/skipping a dose. Hope this works out.
JerseyMike
This could be a major game changer for many people who are poz and those taking prep.. next best thing to a cure..
DerekR
@alphacentauri: Are you noisy douche?
DerekR
A noisy douche…
Ronnyboy
@DerekR:Always have enjoyed your directness:-)
Realityis
I have a novel idea… no more medications. Bring out the cure so I can stop constantly thinking about this virus inside of me… This won’t be ready until at least 2020… I’m really hoping we have a cure by then.
I really hate Big Pharma.
JerseyMike
@Realityis: worked for big pharma.. you can’t hate them anymore than I do.. I think there is a cure too.. Like I tell everyone who ask the question is there a cure.. I say THERE IS NO PROFIT IN A CURE..
solacesoul
@JerseyMike: As a Wall Street investment analyst and banker, I can tell you that there absolutely would be money in the cure. The patent owner of the medication that is considered the cure would need to partner with or sell it to a pharma company that has little to no current financial interest in the current HIV medications. That pharma company would then invest the money in the production of the drug that would be needed to wipe out the competition. This would greatly increase the stock price of the pharma company that manufacture the pill and hold the patent.