Patients in Clinical Research Heroes of Advances in HIV Research

Clinical research is imperative to further improve the efficacy of treatment for HIV says the Indian Society for Clinical Research (ISCR)

New Delhi, November 30, 2016: According to the WHO, at the end of 2015, there were approximately 36.7 million people living with HIV with 2.1 million people becoming newly infected with HIV in 2015 globally. Yet the WHO also states that between 2000 and 2015, new HIV infections have fallen by 35%, AIDS-related deaths have fallen by 28% with some 7.8 million lives saved as a result of international efforts. That we have been able to make such progress for a disease that was once a death knell is indicative of the tremendous advances made in research and development of drugs to treat HIV and more awareness and education about HIV. Today antiretroviral treatment can control the virus and help prevent its transmission so that patients and those at risk can lead qualitatively better lives.

“It is only fitting that on World AIDS Day we pay tribute to all those patients whose participation in clinical trials for HIV has led to the discovery of better and more effective treatment for HIV,” said Suneela Thatte, President of ISCR (Indian Society for Clinical Research). “The clinical research fraternity owes a lot to these patients. We now need to focus our efforts on making treatment more accessible to patients and on research to further improve the potency and efficacy of existing ART medications and improve patient outcomes.” WHO says that in 2005, only 2 million people were on ART. By the end of 2015, 17 million people were on ART globally, an increase of over 800% in a decade

India has the third-highest number of people living with HIV in the world. In 2015, there were 2.1 million people living with HIV and 68,000 AIDS related deaths in India. “Hopefully the day is not too far away when we will have a cure for HIV,” said Suneela Thatte.

Data sources:

http://www.avert.org/professionals/hiv-around-world/asia-pacific/india

https://www.aids.gov/hiv-aids-basics/hiv-aids-101/global-statistics/

About ISCR

The Indian Society for Clinical Research (ISCR) is an association of clinical research professionals that aims to build awareness of clinical research as a specialty in India and to facilitate its growth in the country while helping to evolve the highest standards of quality and ethics. To that extent, we are fully supportive of the initiatives undertaken by regulatory authorities to create a more robust and regulated environment in India for the conduct of clinical research and will continue to work very closely with different stakeholders in the development of regulations that will safeguard and protect patients in a clinical trial. For more information, visit www.iscr.org