(By Gabriel Osei Yaw, 12/12/21)
Antiretroviral therapy (ART) for the treatment of HIV infection has improved steadily since the advent of potent combination therapy in 1996. ART has dramatically reduced HIV-associated morbidity and mortality and has transformed HIV infection into a manageable chronic condition. In addition, ART is highly effective at preventing HIV transmission. However, less than one-third of HIV-infected individuals in the United States have suppressed viral loads, mostly resulting from undiagnosed HIV infection and failure to link or retain diagnosed patients in care.
Despite eradication efforts and treatment development. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) remains a prevalent medical issue. After 30 years HIV-1 was first isolated and identified.
In 2020, approximately 37.6million people globally were living with HIV. A total of about 35.9million were adults and 1.7million were children under 15years. Over 600,000 people died from AIDS-related illnesses worldwide in 2020. Drug developers have worked over a period of time to improve HAART (Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy) and other regimes, as well as the properties of individual therapies. A major breakthrough in HAART is the creation and regulatory approval of single-tablet fixed-dose combination products for NRTI (Non-reverse transcriptase Inhibitors) and PI (Protease Inhibitors) backbone regimes. This approach has reduced side effects and toxicities and has played a tremendous role in changing the treatment paradigm.
The latest development in HIV management is the attempt to tackle HIV prevention. This is led by the Janssen pharmaceutical companies of Johnson and Johnson and they are developing a mosaic-based vaccine regimen for HIV-1 termed a mosaic-based vaccine regimen. It includes the mosaic glycoprotein 140 (gp140). A version of gp140 expressed on the surface of HIV particles made up of segments of gp140s taken from various different HIV strains. The regimen is delivered in 4 doses, uses two different vaccines: the adenovirus vector vaccine that carries transgenes of mosaic HIV genes and an aluminum phosphate-adjuvanted soluble protein.
The vaccine regimen showed promise in phase I and II studies and it is currently in the phase III Mosaico trail. Results of the Mosaic are anticipated in 2023. The new developments in HIV management are really advancing fast in the past decade. There is still hope that a definite and most appropriate treatment will be found and patient's safety will be guaranteed.
REFERENCES
· Origin of HIV & AIDS {internet}. Avert 2019 {cited 9th August 2021}
· Global statistics {internet}. HIV.gov.2021 {cited 9th August 2021}
· Johnson & Johnson announces new clinical data on Mosiac-based HIV preventive Vaccine regimen (cited 10th August 2021)
· WHO 2015 consolidated Guidelines for treatment of persons living with HIV
· Antiretroviral drugs chart{internet}. London NAM;2019 {cited 11th August 2021}
