Controlling and Ultimately Ending the HIV/AIDS Pandemic: A Feasible Goal

• Published in: JAMA : the journal of the American Medical Association 2010-07, Vol.304 (3), p.350-351
• Main Authors: Folkers, Gregory K, Fauci, Anthony S
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome - diagnosis; Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome - drug therapy; Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome - prevention & control; AIDS Vaccines; Anti-Retroviral Agents - therapeutic use; Antiretroviral drugs; Disease management; Disease Outbreaks - prevention & control; Drug therapy; Global Health; HIV; HIV Infections - diagnosis; HIV Infections - drug therapy; HIV Infections - prevention & control; Human immunodeficiency virus; Humans; International Cooperation; Morbidity; Mortality; Pandemics
• ISSN: 0098-7484; 1538-3598
• DOI: 10.1001/jama.2010.957

Folkers and Fauci talk about controlling and ultimately ending the HIV/AIDS pandemic. The development of antiretroviral therapy (ART) has been the one of the greatest accomplishments of basic and translational research: approximately 30 anti-HIV agents are licensed and evidence-based guidelines have been developed for their optimal use. Combination ART with at least 3 drugs has resulted in substantial reductions in morbidity and mortality in both rich and poor countries. Antiretroviral therapy has been simplified to the point where treatment with a single, multidrug pill once a day is possible with generally manageable adverse effects. With improvements in ART, the estimated life expectancy of certain HIV-infected patients now approaches that of uninfected individuals.