In 2018, there were 37.9 million people worldwide living with HIV, of whom 23.3 million (62%) were on antiretroviral treatment (ART). People on HIV treatment 'ART', where the virus is at undetectable levels, are “sexually non-infectious”, according to a study by Professor Alison Rodger.
The ‘conclusive findings’ from an eight-year study of nearly 1,000 gay male couples in Europe were published in 2019 in The Lancet. They report zero HIV transmissions between gay couples where one partner was HIV negative and the other was HIV positive and on effective treatment.
For anyone on HIV treatment, known as antiretroviral treatment therapy (ART), the aim is to achieve and keep HIV viral load at undetectable levels. The results showed that antiretroviral treatment is just as effective in preventing transmission for gay couples, as it is for heterosexual couples, which was proved in an earlier phase of the study.
Lead author, Professor Alison Rodger (UCL Institute for Global Health) said:
Our findings provide conclusive evidence for gay men that the risk of HIV transmission with suppressive antiretroviral treatment therapy is zero.
The study has generated excitement globally as preventing HIV transmission is vital to ending the HIV pandemic, so the finding underscores the value of effective screening and treatment. The news is having an incredible impact on the lives of people living with HIV, and is a powerful message to address HIV-related stigma.
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This second episode in the Made At UCL podcast series features 3 disruptive discoveries stories. In this episode, our host Suzie McCarthy talks to Professor Alison Rodger, Professor of Infectious Diseases and consultant at the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, and Simon Collins, HIV positive treatment advocate at I-Base, about antiretroviral drugs. Their conversation is featured third.
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