Preliminary studies into the efficacy of the anti-Aids drug nevirapine have raised concerns about patients developing resistance to the drug, the South African health ministry said on Monday.
Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang and the nine provincial health MECs were briefed at the weekend about two separate studies — one by the drug’s manufacturer Boehringer Ingelheim, and the other jointly by the National Institute for Communicable Diseases and the Chris Hani-Baragwanath Hospital’s health research unit.
”The presentation raised some challenges, mainly about the development of resistance and the need to conduct further research to inform policy development in this area,” the ministry said in a statement.
No recommendation was made for the immediate review of nevirapine’s current use in the prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of the virus, or for long-term HIV treatment.
”We are obliged by a court ruling to continue providing nevirapine for PMTCT until there is concrete scientific data that shows we shouldn’t,” said ministry spokesperson Sibani Mngadi.
The Constitutional Court ruled in 2002 that the drug should be provided to HIV-positive pregnant woman at state hospitals.
A national consultative meeting would be convened as soon as possible after next month’s international Aids conference in Bangkok to further discuss the matter of resistance, the ministry said.
Nevirapine received provisional registration from the Medicines Control Council, and is provided by the government to HIV-positive pregnant women to minimise the risk of the virus being passed on to their babies. The baby is also given a dose.
Drug resistance was of concern as these women might need long-term HIV treatment later in their lives, and nevirapine would then not be effective, Mngadi explained.
There were also concerns about people who develop resistance to nevirapine passing the resistant strain of the virus on to others. No deadline was set for the extended research into these and other issues.
The ministry statement said some of the findings of the study would be presented to next month’s international Aids conference. – Sapa