Trial results confirm HIV treatment can prevent transmission of HIV between HIV positive and negative couples!!

People living with HIV can now, with dignity and confidence, take additional steps to protect their loved ones from HIV.

The news from the HPTN 052 trial showed Antiretroviral therapy to be 96% effective in reducing HIV transmission in couples where one partner has HIV. The trial, conducted by the HIV Prevention Trials Network, enrolled more than 1 700 sero-discordant couples (one partner who is HIV-positive and one who is HIV-negative) from Africa, Asia, the United States and Latin America.

“This breakthrough is a serious game changer and will drive the prevention revolution forward. It makes HIV treatment a new priority prevention option,” said Michel Sidibé, Executive Director of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS).

Only people living with HIV with a CD4 cell count of between 350 and 550, thus not yet eligible for treatment for their own health according to latest WHO guidelines, were enrolled in the study. The reduction of sexual transmission of HIV was so significant that the trial was stopped 3-4 years ahead of schedule. (source: WHO)