News Release Archive
HEALTH--HIV COMBINATION THERAPY RECEIVES PROVINCIAL FUNDING ------------------------------------------------------------ The Department of Health will now fund 3TC, an HIV therapy drug used in combination with AZT, said Health Minister Ron Stewart today. "Combination drug therapy has proven beneficial in the treatment of those with HIV infection," said Dr.Stewart. "Funding 3TC as we do AZT, ddi and ddC will mean better HIV treatment in this province." The most recent reported results from the British Medical Research Council indicate that combination therapy prolonged the lives of up to 33 per cent of people with HIV. Combination therapy is the use of two or more drugs at one time. The most common drug combinations used to date in Nova Scotia have been AZT in combination with either ddC or ddi. 3TC is used in an attempt to avoid development of resistance to AZT in patients. The drug 3TC was available at no cost to individuals who were enrolled in clincial trials of combination therapy at the Victoria General Hospital. However, once 3TC was approved for market sale by Health Canda in December, it was no longer available free of charge to patients. "Physicians at the Infectious Diseases Clinic are pleased that their patients will be receiving what has now become the standard of care for treating HIV infection," said Dr. Lynn Johnston, director, HIV Clinic at the Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre. Dr. Stewart said, "Funding of combination therapy with these drugs through government, as insurer of last resort, will allow Nova Scotians with HIV infection and without private insurance or adequate finances, the option of using combination therapy." -30- Contact: Lori MacLean 902-424-5025 jlw Feb. 16, 1996 10:20 a.m.