Last night, the final results of the HTN 052 study were released at the 2015 International Aids Conference in Vancouver.
The study included HIV-positive South Africans and showed that being on treatment led to a 93% lower chance of transmitting the virus to a negative partner.
The study began in 2005 and discordant couples – where one partner is HIV-positive and the other negative – were recruited from nine countries.
In half of the couples, the positive person was given antiretrovirals immediately and in the other half the positive person was not given treatment until their CD4 count dropped below 250.
In 2011, preliminary results led to the trial being stopped early in its initial form as it proved ARVs worked as a preventative measure. From 2011 until May every positive person was given treatment and the couples monitored.
