Lead image for HIV therapy under threat as drug resistance emerges.
Scientists have detected a troubling new trend in HIV drug resistance in Sub-Sahara, affecting treatment once considered reliable.
Presenting findings from the Ndovu Study at the recent International Aids Society (IAS) summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, researchers reported the resistance among HIV-positive people in Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique and Lesotho.
If the trend continues, they said, HIV transmissions would rise. Without intervention, patients resistant to the drug will face weakened immunity, leaving them vulnerable to opportunistic infections that could eventually lead to death.
The drug under trial is dolutegravir, or DTG. It has been the preferred first and second line HIV treatment since 2018.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), DTG is more effective, easier to take and causes fewer side effects than other drugs in use. It is also recognised for its strong genetic barrier against developing drug resistance.
Read: Watchdog on the spot as fake ARVs, HIV kits and Viagra infiltrate Kenya
Dr Loice Ombajo, the principal investigator and an infectious disease expert, shared results from resistance testing after enrolling the first 2,994 participants in 131 sites in Kenya. The participants had been on DTG‑based treatment for at least six months.
She said those identified with major DTG‑associated drug resistance mutations were enrolled in a nested clinical trial to generate evidence that would guide the optimal management of people experiencing DTG treatment failure.