DNA Edit: The blue pill – A blessing for AIDS victims

Is the blue pill that has worked wonders in decreasing the incidence of new cases of AIDS in Australia truly a wonder drug? For the study published in Lancet, 3700 participants were recruited in the eight months between March 1, 2016, and October 31, 2016. Among them, 3676 (99 per cent) were men, 3534 (96 per cent) were identified as gay, and 149 (4 per cent) as bisexual. Truvada, or Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), as it is termed, is considered a pharmacological breakthrough that can consign AIDS to history books. It has already made waves in the US. 

A few months ago, the Food and Drug Administration approved a generic version of Truvada aimed at preventing HIV-negative people from becoming infected with the virus. Truvada is also used in HIV treatment in combination with other medications. If this drug benefits gays and heterosexual in India, then the government should get hold of it as soon as possible. But it must undergo proper clinical trials before being certified safe since the results of the study conducted in Australia should not be generalised. 

Though the AIDs epidemic in the country is slowing down, India has the third largest HIV epidemic in the world. In 2017, HIV prevalence among adults (aged 15-49) was an estimated 0.2 per cent. This figure is small compared to most other middle-income countries but because of India’s huge population, it poses significant challenge. India must follow the US example and look at the generic version of the drug, which would be far more cheaper. In India, male sex workers are particularly vulnerable to HIV. Truvada has rekindled hopes of making the world HIV-free.