A new study has disclosed that anti-retroviral drugs may actually be able to prevent the transmission of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).
This ground-breaking study has gone a long way to prove that, in addition to suppressing the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) virus to minimal and undetectable levels in carriers, anti-retroviral drugs also ensure that the virus cannot be passed on through sex.
According to Lead researcher, Prof. Alison Rodger, the findings provide conclusive evidence for gay men that the risk of HIV transmission with suppressive ART is zero.
In her view, this landmark development could help end the HIV pandemic by preventing the virus’ transmission in high-risk populations.
The study, published in the Lancet medical journal on Thursday, considered the risk of HIV transmission between serodifferent gay male couples – where one partner is HIV-positive and one is HIV-negative — who do not use condoms.
About 1,000 gay male couples who had sex without condoms — where one partner had HIV and was taking antiretroviral drugs to suppress it — were assessed and the results showed that the treatment can prevent sexual transmission of the virus.
The study found no cases of HIV transmission within the couples even after eight years of following up with them.
The researchers estimate that the suppressive antiretrovial treatment prevented around 472 HIV transmissions during the eight years.
