ASIA/THAILAND - HIV/AIDS therapy in developing countries: Doctors without Frontiers looks at progress made and challenges still unanswered

Monday, 12 July 2004

Rome (Fides Service) - Antiviral drug therapy for HIV/AIDS has proven effective also for patients at an advanced stage of the illness in developing countries. This emerged from information presented today by the international humanitarian organisation Doctors without Frontiers MSF at the World Conference on AIDS taking place in Bangkok.
The simplification of the therapy, especially the use of FDC- fixed dose combinations in one pill taken twice a day comprising the 3 active principles necessary to fight the virus, permitted MSF to rapidly increase the number of patients treated. In 2002 MSF reached 1,500 patients in 10 countries today it treats 13,000 in 25 countries.
Despite its success MSF said that many challenges must still be addressed: first of all the exorbitant cost of the second line therapy for patients who show resistance to front line drugs and the absolute lack of paediatric formulations.
Fixed dose combinations marked a turning point for first line therapy but the MSF voiced concern for patients in need of second line treatment.
"Resistance to ARV first line is inevitable in both rich and poor countries said Dr Alexandra Calmy, MSF AIDS expert. But it is almost impossible to offer second line therapy in poor countries because it costs more than US$ 5,000 a year, 15 times more than first line treatment”.
MSF is also concerned about the fast approaching deadline of 2005 when poor countries will have to abide by World Trade Organisation regulations regarding patents on medicines. This will apply also to countries such as India, Brazil and Thailand, where anti-AIDS drugs are distributed at political prices. (AP) (12/7/2004 Agenzia Fides; Righe:29; Parole:348)


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