New HIV/AIDS Drug In South Africa Streamlines Treatment And Lowers Costs

South Africans living with HIV or AIDS are being offered a new option for treatment that will significantly reduce the number of pills they have to take daily.

The South African government, which sponsored the new medication, says it will be the least expensive HIV/AIDS treatment in the world, according to Voice of America news. 

Treatment for one patient using the old system of anti-retrovirals reportedly cost the government 400 rand ($45) per patient.

The government says it will save at least 300 rand ($33) per patient with the new treatment system, which effectively combines the properties of three separate treatments into one pill.

The drug, called Atrozia, is combination of three drugs that are used in treating HIV: tenofovir, emtricitabine and efavirenz.

"People get tired of taking pills. I used to take 90 pills a month. That is a lot of pills for anyone and many people would default because of that," said Andrew Mosane, 36, who was diagnosed with HIV in 2003. Mosane was the first person to receive Atrozia, according to the South African news outlet Sowetan.

South Africa has 5.6 million people living with HIV/AIDs, the world's highest number of people living with the virus. About 1.7 million HIV-positive people are taking anti-retroviral treatments. The cost savings in treating the condition with one pill would be significant, and the streamlining of treatment will likely make more effective as the opportunity to miss a dose of medication lowers.

 "The fixed-dose combination will improve compliance and reduce the risk of patients not complying with treatment dosage and will also simplify the treatment regime," said South Africa's Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi.