African Studies: HIV Medications Can Prevent Infections?

Studies conducted in some African countries have shown some AIDs drugs can prevent the spread of HIV to uninfected individuals.

A new study has shown that a daily dose of Gilead Science's Truvada, used to treat patients with HIV, can also prevent the spread of the disease to uninfected individuals.

The research, conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Botswana Ministry of Health, found that the oral tablets reduced the risk of infection in heterosexual men and women by 78%. Half the 1,200 patients enrolled on the study in Botswana were given the antiretroviral drug and the other half were given a placebo.

In a separate announcement, the University of Washington, which co-managed the research, released the results of another study which tested 4,700 heterosexual couples in Kenya and Uganda.