Kenyan Scientist Unveils The World’s First Antiretroviral Drug Taken Once-A-Year
A United States-based Kenyan scientist Professor Benson Edagwa and his colleagues at the University of Nebraska Medical Center have unveiled the world’s first antiretroviral (ARV) drug to be taken once-a-year.
The team has already sampled the new drug on mice and non-human apes and observed that it was safe and effective.
Speaking on the new drug Prof Edagwa who designed and produced the required modifications of the new product said:
This occurs for extended time periods, and in laboratory and animal testing, up to a year.
The scientists modified an existing ARV drug, cabotegravir, to enable the body to absorb and release it slowly from tissues over 12 months.
For tech news & updates
Techzim WhatsApp Channel: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaS23mO84OmAI88Cwd2q
The scientists said that the new pill could also act as a vaccine for healthy people who take it and have unprotected sex cautioning that it was, however. “not a cure for HIV/Aids.”
Professor Edagwa said some of the advantages of the new drug are reduced clinic visits, a development that will enable health caregivers to provide other essential services like immunisations and also the patients would have more time for other economic activities.
More: The Star