Further evidence for effectiveness of nevirapine in reducing mother-to-child HIV-1 tr...( ts had been given nevirapine around the...),Health

Brooks Jackson comments: "The absolute 8.2% reduction in transmission at 6-8 weeks was sustained at age 18 monthsThis simple, inexpensive, well-tolerated regimen has the potential to significantly decrease HIV-1 perinatal transmission in less-developed countries."

In an accompanying Commentary (p 842), x from y cautions against the widespread use of single-dose agents such as nevirapine because of the potential for resistance to develop against other similar antiretroviral drugs. She concludes: 'Generic antiretrovirals, prepared in convenient single-pill triple combinations for once and twice daily dosing, are now available for less than US$1 a day. The HIVNET 012 protocol was modified in 1998 to accommodate the changing realities of the HIV-1 pandemic. 5 years later, these realities have shifted yet again. Suboptimum single-agent and double-agent prophylaxis protocols no longer have a justifiable place in the front lines of the global struggle against HIV/AIDS. It is up to all of us to focus on development of equitable distribution and effective use of these agents now. Once they are widely available, it may be too late.'

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Contact: Joe Santangelo
j.santangelo@elsevier.com
212-633-3810
Lancet
11-Sep-2003