SAN ANTONIO — HIV is no longer a death sentence for those who live with it, and new therapies with benefits lasting longer than what current medications can provide could help curb the epidemic even further.
But you need to know your status first.
Professionals at ViiV Healthcare say even though many people believe the HIV epidemic is solved, that couldn't be further from the truth. The reality is that many still have to take a daily pill to keep the virus under control, including in South Texas.
"One of the key topics at this conference was looking at other options for people who really struggle with taking that pill every day," said Dr. Harmony Garges, chief medical officer for ViiV Healthcare.
Garges is referring to a premiere conference held last month, where the latest HIV treatments were a main topic. Providing medication to everyone impacted by HIV is necessary to end the epidemic, experts say.
"It's so important to come up with therapies that would work for that population, because you need to take your medicines to keep your virus suppressed, to optimize your own health," she said.
39 million people live with HIV globally. Here in the U.S., 1.2 million people are dealing with the disease. Every year there are 36,000 new diagnoses, including about 350 in San Antonio.
Awareness, experts say, is key to the ongoing fight.
"We were able to share information about our next-generation, long-acting medicine," Garges said. "So a medicine that could potentially treat people with only three doses in a year."
That's three doses of an injection compared with a year of taking daily pills.
"This can really show that long-acting therapies can help the individual by keeping their virus suppressed and, importantly, help so that they don't transmit HIV to other people," Garges added.
She says anyone living with HIV should talk to their physician to discuss what treatment option is best for them.