UPDATE 2-Once-daily AIDS pill can slash HIV infection risk

Wed Jul 13, 2011 6:00pm GMT

[-] Text [+]

* Bolsters hopes for new way to slow AIDS pandemic

* Gilead pills cut heterosexual infection 62-73 pct

* Studies tested drugs in Kenya, Uganda, Botswana

* WHO says findings "could have enormous impact" (Adds comment from US CDC, investigators)

By Ben Hirschler

LONDON, July 13 (Reuters) - AIDS drugs designed to treat HIV can also be used to reduce dramatically the risk of infection among heterosexual couples, two studies conducted in Africa showed for the first time on Wednesday.

The findings add to growing evidence that the type of medicines prescribed since the mid-1990s to treat people who are already sick may also hold the key to slowing or even halting the spread of the sexually transmitted disease.

The research involving couples in Kenya, Uganda and Botswana found that daily AIDS drugs reduced infection rates by an average of at least 62 percent when compared with placebo.

"Effective new HIV prevention tools are urgently needed and these studies could have enormous impact in preventing heterosexual transmission," Margaret Chan, director-general of the World Health Organization (WHO), said in a statement. Continued...

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