WHO welcomes NAMSAL trial findings on dolutegravir
14 November 2018 – The World Health Organization (WHO) welcomes the results from NAMSAL (New Antiretroviral and Monitoring Strategies in HIV-infected Adults in Low-income countries), a study conducted in Cameroon by the French Agency for Research on AIDS and Viral Hepatitis (ANRS). The study aims to compare the efficacy of two first-line treatments for HIV infection in more than 600 participants.
The results of the trial show that dolutegravir-based treatment is not inferior to treatment with efavirenz (400 mg). In the specific context of treatment for people living with HIV in Southern countries, the researchers believe that first-line treatment with dolutegravir is a good alternative to efavirenz.
“We welcome the results from this important research”, said Dr Gottfried Hirnschall, WHO’s Director for HIV and hepatitis. “The ANRS NAMSAL study supports joint efforts being made by WHO and Unitaid to optimize HIV treatment and to identify ever better and safer treatments for people living with HIV”.