A single tablet regimen combining antiretrovirals has been found to be an effective alternative for newly-diagnosed HIV positive people. The findings of two international studies published in the Lancet say that the new “quad” pill acts faster and has less side-effects.
According to the Lancet, it could be an “important new treatment option” as it will make it easier for patients to stick to their medication, which may further improve the treatment. “In addition to efficacy, tolerability, including the short-term and long-term side-effects combined with the convenience of a regimen, is a very important index to guide therapeutic choices,” the Lancet.
In the findings of two large randomised trials published in the British medical journal, the researchers compare the effects of quad pill with the current treatment in 700 patients.
Experts found that the quad pill was a “highly potent” and “well tolerated treatment option”. The Lancet indicated that the new pill was faster acting and does not have the neuropsychiatric side-effects that are associated with other combinations.
The new drug, according to experts, could also improve compliance with the treatment as the older HIV treatment regimen involve several pills for multiple times a day. In their study too, the experts found that the single pill treatment improved adherence to the treatment, helping reduce the likelihood of drug resistance in future. In fact, it was found that 88 per cent of the patients that were on the quad pill suppressed viral loads compared with 84 per cent of HIV affected people in the other group.
The experts also noted less number of side-effects compared with the other drug regimen.
Experts in India say that if the once-daily single tablet regimen is approved, it will help offload the hassles of taking numerous pills for multiple times a day and will consequently help in better adherence to the treatment.
The pill had earlier gained the backing of the US advisory panel to treat patients infected with the virus. The decision on the approval of the drug will be taken in August by the FDA.