The HIV treatment method of one pill a day has been approved for use for the first time in the U.S., the Food and Drug Administration announced.
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Atripla pill (Photo: BBC) |
The pill, named Atripla, developed by Bristol-Myers Squibb and Gilead Sciences, combines the three most commonly used HIV medications: efavirenz, tenofovir, and emtricitabine. It will also be approved for use in Europe next year.
Currently, individuals infected with HIV must take separate pills containing efavirenz, tenofovir, and emtricitabine. The number of pills they need to take each day can reach several dozen, although this has been reduced in recent years. This not only creates difficulties for patients but also increases the risk of drug resistance if patients do not adhere to the prescribed regimen.
As such, experts believe the introduction of Atripla represents a significant breakthrough in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Mike Leavitt from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services stated, “This important breakthrough will assist us in the fight against HIV/AIDS. I hope stakeholders will quickly bring this drug to market so it can reach those in need.”
However, using Atripla will be quite expensive, costing over $1,000 per month.
M.T
