More positive news in the fight against HIV/AIDS – close to 100 new products in testing for treatment/prevention

97 new products for the prevention or treatment of HIV/AIDS and related conditions are currently in human clinical trials, or awaiting approval by the FDA, according to the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America.  These products in development include 23 vaccines and 54 antivirals.

While not all these products will be approved, it’s more encouraging news in the fight against HIV/AIDS following from yesterday’s announcement by UNAIDS of a global decline in HIV infection rates (UNAIDS report: 33.4 million worldwide have HIV, but infections slow).  UNAIDS estimates that new HIV infections worldwide have been reduced by 17% over the past eight years.

Since the introduction of anti-retroviral therapy in 1995, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that the annual number of deaths in the US due to AIDS has dropped by more than 70%.

UNAIDS report: 33.4 million worldwide have HIV, but infections slow

A newly released United Nations report on HIV  says that while the disease has killed 25 million people worldwide, the rate of new infections is slowing sharply.  The UNAIDS agency report says the number of newly infected grew by 2.7 million in 2008,  bringing the world total to 33.4 million.

In sub-Saharan Africa,  where the scourge of AIDS is most keenly felt,  there were 400,000 fewer new infections last year, down 15 percent when compared to figures from 2001.

During the same time period,  new HIV infections in East Asia declined by 25 percent and by 10 percent in south and southeast Asia.

The report says the availability of life-saving HIV drugs is helping more people live longer.

Fake Chinese drugs marketed with ‘Made in India’ tag

An interesting article from the Financial Express, based in India, on counterfeit medicines and how they are being marketed.

Barely four months after China-made fake drugs with deceptive ‘Made in India’ labels were seized in Nigeria, more cases of spurious drugs are surfacing in the Indian market with alleged links to China.

Recently, seized samples of human immunoglobin injection used in the case of multiple sclerosis, bone marrow transplantation, chronic B-cell lymphocytic leukemia, pediatric HIV-1 infection among others, which were declared spurious by the drug regulator office in Rajasthan were allegedly manufactured by a Chinese company.

Earlier in June this year, the Nigerian drug regulator seized large consignments of fake anti-malarial generic pharmaceuticals labelled `Made in India’, which were later, found to be produced in China.

Changes in global child mortality and the MDGs

A very interesting video on global child mortality and the Millennium Development Goals by Dr. Hans Rosling (in collaboration with the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation).

Preventing disease through vaccination — a contrast between developed and developing countries

Nearly 12 million Africans deemed at highest risk from yellow fever will be vaccinated next week against the virus, which can cause explosive epidemics in cities.

Vaccination is the best way to prevent yellow fever, which is hard to diagnose in early stages and for which there is no specific treatment, according to the United Nations agency.  Yellow fever infects 206,000 people a year and kills an estimated 30,000, mainly in tropical parts of Africa and the Americas where it has never been wiped out.

In contrast, a survey of Canadians shows that despite efforts to make vaccines available, nearly half won’t bother to get the H1N1 shot.  Similar results are reported from surveys in the U.S.

Poor nutrition stunting growth

A third of deaths in children under five in those countries are linked to poor diet, a report by UNICEF suggests. It also reveals 195m children – one in three – have stunted growth, even though rates have fallen since 1990.  UNICEF said the number of underweight children also remained high, with many countries struggling to hit official targets to halve the figures.

Experts warn that such a condition is often irreversible and effectively condemns children to a lifetime of poor health.  UNICEF chief Ann Veneman said: “Undernutrition steals a child’s strength and makes illnesses that the body might otherwise fight off far more dangerous.

UNICEF said that together with its partners, which include governments and international aid agencies, it was making progress to improve nutrition for children in the 150 countries it was working in.  Nonetheless, just 63 out of 117 countries look like they will meet the Millennium Development Goal of halving the rates of underweight children between 1990 and 2015.

Health Canada warns people not to buy unauthorized products to fight H1N1 flu

Federal authorities are warning Canadians not to buy unauthorized products from the Internet or other sources that claim to fight the H1N1 virus.  The Competition Bureau and Health Canada issued a statement Wednesday saying that only three products are authorized for use against the virus: the vaccine from GlaxoSmithKline called Arepanrix, which is available at flu clinics and doctors’ offices, and the antiviral drugs Tamiflu and Relenza.

“Taking unapproved or counterfeit drugs could pose serious risks to health,” the advisory says.  “These products may contain ingredients not listed on the label or dangerous additives, and could cause serious side effects.”

The warning says vaccines should only come from a qualified health care provider, and antivirals should only be purchased with a prescription from a health care practitioner who has examined the patient.

The advisory says there are legitimate Canadian Internet pharmacies, but consumers need to be aware of the risks associated with buying drugs online.

Health Canada says it will monitor the Internet and take action against websites selling unauthorized products for the treatment or prevention of the H1N1 flu virus, or any other health condition.

200,000 doses of the unadjuvanted H1N1 vaccine called Panvax have also been imported from Australia for use in pregnant women.