[procaare] Re: New AIDS Pill to Treat People in Poor Countries (2)

[ihoaids@vsnl.com]

New AIDS Pill to Treat People in Poor Countries (2)
--Dr.I.S.Gilada, India
********* 

Dear Forum members,

The so called 'new pill, made by Aurobindo Pharma of Hyderabad, India' that combines three common first-line drugs, AZT, 3TC and NVP,is not new to Indians and the HIV/AIDS patients from the developing countries, as it is already in market for almost a decade. Moreover it can not be used in all the HIV/AIDS patients in developing countries as a rule of thumb. One must understand that more than half (even upto 80-90%) HIV/AIDS patients in the developing countries are anaemic, whose Haemoglobin level is less than 
12 gm% or even less than 10 gm%. In such patients AZT can not be used. Often we see patients, where their CD4 counts improve but they die of anaemias induced by AZT.

Dr. Mark Dybul's statement that the new pill did not contain D4T, also known as stavudine and Zerit, which is another common first-line drug, but somewhat more toxic than the others, does not hold absolutely true in this light. D4T is often much better tolerated and less toxic than AZT. The only better option is DDI and the best first line could be DDI+3TC+Efavirenz.

Dr.I.S.Gilada
Consultant in HIV/AIDS
Hon. secretary, Peoples Health Organisation (India) and
AIDS Society of India
gilada@usa.net