The efficacy and safety of single pills combining fixed doses of generic drugs as a treatment for HIV infection is emerging from recent research.

In this article in The Lancet, N. Kumarasamy summarises the hurdles that must be overcome for the effective implementation of generic antiretroviral therapies in developing countries. These include patients' adherence to drug regimes, reducing the costs of combination drugs as well as the cost of laboratory analyses, and providing proper training for physicians.

Without careful adherence to safety guidelines, antiretroviral drug failure and resistance may arise as a new public health challenge in the future, says Kumarasamy.

Reference: The Lancet 364, 3 (2004)

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