News Release Archive
HEALTH--HIV COMBINATION THERAPY RECEIVES PROVINCIAL FUNDING
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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."
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Contact: Lori MacLean 902-424-5025
jlw Feb. 16, 1996 10:20 a.m.