(Image source: LGBTQ Nation)


BY JING ZHAO
 

You're watching multisource health video news analysis from Newsy.

More than 60 million people have been infected with HIV since the pandemic began--

Now -- a breakthrough, as researchers say a daily pill may help prevent the spread of the disease.

Here’s KUSA.

“Two studies were done over in Africa and found that the drug, Truvada, which is already used to treat HIV symptoms among gay men, could help prevent the spread of the virus in heterosexual adults. This pill is taken every day and it lowered the risk for men by more than 60%.”

The two studies are the first to show protection for heterosexual couples. But a CNN analyst says the drugs used have already proved effective in protecting gay men.

“There was a study presented earlier this year among gay and bisexual men that showed a 44% reduction in risk of acquisition...”

Experts say the new studies are also the first to demonstrate a way for women to protect themselves from infection, without relying on their partner. And a writer for Time says, without major side effects, the pills will be easy to use for prevention.

“The current trials ... would not have been possible without advances in drug development, which have enabled scientists to create anti-HIV drugs that have fewer side effects … That's critical when using the drugs in a healthy population, because such groups are less likely than HIV-postive patients to tolerate toxic side effects of medications.”

So what now? A reporter for the Boston Globe predicts, with such high demand, there will have to be changes made to how the drugs are distributed.

“...pressure is likely to increase on donors to find more money to supply the drugs in African nations ravaged by HIV and on pharmaceutical manufacturers to either sell them cheaply worldwide or release their patents to companies that can.”

In countries that allow generic versions of these drugs, they’re available for as little as 25 cents per pill.

 

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Transcript by Newsy.