Hiv-hope news updates

charukesi October 27th, 2005

The Science blog had carried this piece recently, HIV Mortality in India Drops with Introduction of Generic Antiretroviral Therapy. The survival rate of HIV-infected patients in India has risen in response to a 20-fold drop in the price of antiretroviral therapy (ART).

The piece ends with this very important point. Making HIV-infected people aware of affordable treatment options is an important additional step toward curbing the spread of a deadly disease in a resource-poor country. True, very true.

Mzansi Afrika reports on clinical trials on the new anti-HIV gel for women (link through global voices). From the report - the trials will begin in South Africa and Uganda this week, and then extend into Tanzania and Zambia later in the year. Similar trials are being conducted in Australia by a research group.

The report also mentions, In India as well, in Tamil Nadu, similar trials are being conducted on a product called Praneem. Praneem is essentially a microbicide. These microbicides will enable women to negotiate condom use or to abandon partners who put them at risk and would also help avoid unwanted pregnancies, according to experts. With such products coming up, women empowerment will acquire new meaning in Tamil Nadu in a few months’ time when the third phase of the clinical trials for at least three candidate microbicides will begin. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), a premier research institution, is already studying a product called “Praneem”.

Anyone heard more about Praneem?

3 Responses to “Hiv-hope news updates”

  1. # vigneshon 31 Oct 2005 at 16.53

    Charukeshi : HAPPY DIWALI !! :-)

  2. # thennavanon 02 Nov 2005 at 00.24

    Happy Deepavali Charu :-)

  3. # A Time To Reflect » Blog Archive » New blog discoverieson 02 Nov 2005 at 17.31

    […] Also commendable is their effort to document the struggles of families in India struggling to buy anti-retrovial drugs, in order to keep a family member healthy, and maybe even alive. I had linked to a piece on the Science Blog which stated, the survival rate of HIV-infected patients in India has risen in response to a 20-fold drop in the price of antiretroviral therapy (ART). In sheer contrast, lives in focus says this about their attempt- The baseline will also establish how they think they will manage as drug prices surge and any stockpiled drugs are depleted. I wonder if the Science Blog report was just too optimistic, or in case the prices have dropped, are the benefits not percolating down to the needy? I have written to Sandeep at ‘lives in focus’ - will post his reply here when he resopnds. […]