HIV Antiretroviral Therapy Effectively Eliminates Transmission Risk For Serodifferent Gay Couples, Study Shows

CNN: HIV treatment eliminates risk of passing on virus, landmark study says
“The risk of passing on the HIV virus is completely eliminated by effective drugs treatment, a landmark study has shown, in a significant boost to the prospects of ending the AIDS pandemic. A study of nearly 1,000 gay male couples, where one partner with HIV took antiretroviral therapy (ART), found no new cases of transmission to the HIV-negative partner during sex without a condom…” (Mackintosh, 5/3).

Financial Times: AIDS breakthrough as study finds that drugs stop HIV transmission
“…The researchers said their results provided a similar level of evidence on viral suppression and HIV transmission risk for gay men to that previously generated for heterosexual couples, and suggested that the risk of HIV transmission in gay couples through condomless sex when the viral load is suppressed by the drugs is effectively zero. The observational study, which is the largest of its kind and published in The Lancet, provides ‘conclusive evidence’ that proper antiretroviral treatment will ensure the virus is ‘untransmittable,’ the researchers said…” (Neville/Mersinoglu, 5/3).

The Guardian: End to AIDS in sight as huge study finds drugs stop HIV transmission
“…Among nearly 1,000 male couples across Europe where one partner with HIV was receiving treatment to suppress the virus, there were no cases of transmission of the infection to the HIV-negative partner during sex without a condom. Although 15 men were infected with HIV during the eight-year study, DNA testing proved that was through sex with someone other than their partner who was not on treatment…” (Boseley/Devlin, 5/2).

Additional coverage of the study’s findings is available from Agence France-Presse, Al Jazeera, HealthDay News, Newsweek, Reuters, and The Telegraph.

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