Treatment Options for HIV/AIDS in 2002 in India

[Guest guest]

PRESS RELEASE: Treatment Options in HIV/AIDS in 2002

Since the world HIV epidemic began 21 years ago, a great deal of insight has

been gained in the HIV disease patterns. During this period various therapies

have been implemented revealing varying degrees of success. In India, though the

epidemic started almost 5 years later, the epidemic threatens to outpace all

other regions. On the eve of the 16th year of the HIV epidemic in India, FXB in

association with AIDS Treatment Group (ATG) have organized a symposium on

" Treatment Options in HIV/AIDS in 2002 " , in Mumbai.

Association François-Xavier Bagnoud (AFXB) is an international, non-government

organization committed to humanitarian service. Swiss Countess Albina du

Boisrouvray founded the Association in memory of her son, François who at the

age of 24 tragically lost his life in a helicopter rescue mission. AFXB is

active in 17 countries across 6 continents. In India, FXB is working in close

co-operation with NACO and the State AIDS Control Societies and is committed to

assist in controlling the HIV transmission through awareness and counseling and

also facilitates comprehensive care strategy focusing on care and support. Bill

& Melinda Gates foundation has funded FXB's project on migrant workers in rural

India. In India, FXB is active in 17 states currently and intends on launching

programs in all 35 states.

With the development of various antiretroviral (ARV) agents, by mid-90's,

aspiration for a cure for HIV/AIDS, was raised with the use of triple ARV

regimens (HAART). However due to a combination of host, viral and drug factors,

it was soon realized that eradication of the virus from an infected host was an

unrealistic goal with the currently available ARV agents. It is now established

that HIV though not " curable " , is certainly a " treatable " chronic disease just

as diabetes or hypertension.

This symposium aims at sharing the insights, knowledge and experience, gained

in the developed countries and in Mumbai regarding the management of HIV/AIDS.

Dr. Anil Purohit, Worldwide Project Director, AFXB, USA, will chair this

symposium. Dr. Stefano Vella, President of the International AIDS Society will

be sharing his expertise on when and at what stage of the disease, the treatment

with ARV should commence and with what regimens. Dr. D.G. Saple, a pioneer

HIV/AIDS Consultant from India will speak on the causes of failure with ARV in

India and how these drugs can be used effectively by integrating the various

available therapeutic options. Dr. Haag of FXB, USA will speak on TB

in HIV and Dr. Alan Stone, Chairman, International Working Group in

Microbicides. U.K will present an update on Microbicides.

Today the experts have reached to the consensus that the HIV patients and the

treatment of the opportunistic infections that afflict, forms the core activity

in HIV/AIDS care in India. Maintaining or improving the immune status is the

next priority so as to impede HIV disease progression. It has been recognized

that merely targeting the virus is not adequate, and also that therapies that

boost the host immune response like cytokine infusions or immunomodulatory

indigenous drugs need to be integrated in to the therapeutic armamentarium.

Multi-centric controlled studies by various investigators in the Indian settings

have established the immunorestortive efficacy of the indigenous formulation

Reimun, reinforcing the validity of this approach. Keeping viral replication in

check by the use of ARV in the form of HAART, using correct combinations of ARV

agents that preserve future options for sequencing and salvage which currently

is the final frontier in HIV/AIDS care.

The evolution of the infrastructure of the Indian pharmacy industry is

attributed to the commitment of the leaders of independent India. Hence Indian

pharma majors like Genix Pharmaceuticals along with other Indian companies are

able to offer the latest ARV agents at the most economical prices all over the

world.

Contact:

Dr.D.G. Saple- 9820017423.

Dr.J.Harsh - 9810131750

Email jharsh@...

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Dr.Jagdish Harsh ( jharsh@... )

François-Xavier Bagnoud (INDIA) ( www.fxb.org )

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