HIV remains a major threat to newborns, with 120,000 new infections in children under 14 each year. However, significant progress has been made in preventing transmission from mother to baby, mainly through antiretroviral treatment for pregnant women.
Professor Adrie Bekker, a neonatologist at Tygerberg Hospital in South Africa, is leading research to improve HIV treatment for newborns. Her team is testing a new method of administering dolutegravir (DTG), an HIV drug, through a dispersible oral film. This method could make it easier to treat newborns and is part of the Unitaid-funded BENEFIT Kids project.
The PETITE-DTG study, conducted at Tygerberg Hospital, found that the oral film was safe and effective. It dissolved quickly in the baby’s mouth and was preferred by mothers over other methods, such as syrups or dispersible tablets, which can be difficult to administer. The study’s results could pave the way for broader use of DTG in newborn HIV treatment.
Although the film has passed necessary tests, it is not yet available for purchase. The research also highlighted challenges in developing pediatric HIV medications, as neonates require careful dosing. Dr. Bekker’s team uses diary cards to help mothers remember the dosing schedule.
The research is particularly timely, as global funding cuts, especially from the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), threaten to undermine HIV treatment efforts, particularly in Africa. Dr. Bekker expressed concern that these cuts will affect HIV prevention and treatment for newborns.
Looking to the future, long-acting HIV treatments, like a single injection at birth, could simplify HIV prevention for babies. Though still in development, these treatments offer hope for improving outcomes in newborn HIV care.
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