Pune: BJ Govt medical College to check efficacy of ultra-short TB preventive therapy on people with HIV

These are short and ultra-short-course TB preventive therapies (TPT), recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO). “The study will help determine whether 1HP is superior to 3HP in terms of treatment completion and adherence in people living with HIV,” said Dr. Rohidas Borse, principal investigator and professor and head of medicine department at B J Government Medical College.

The enrolment target for India includes 250 HIV-positive adolescents and adults who will be enrolled at BJGMC-JHU Clinical Research Site.

“Evidence from this study will give insights into the adoption of ultra-short 1HP regimens in Indian settings,” said Dr. Vidya Mave, director and leader of BJGMC JHU Clinical Research Site.

Dr. Nishi Suryavanshi, study investigator from BJGMC JHU Clinical Research Site, said, “The 1 to 3 HP study will also provide scientific evidence on the ultra-short TB Preventive Therapy regimen, which can aid in revising the guidelines and formalizing policies in India. The project will also help expand TB-HIV epidemiologic research in India.”

Tuberculosis is a leading infectious killer globally and a major cause of illness and suffering. Prevention of TB with isoniazid preventive therapy (IPT) has been the mainstay of TB prevention for decades.

Currently, national guidelines recommend six months of IPT for HIV- positive persons. Combined use of IPT with Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART) is recommended for both children and adults, irrespective of degree of immune suppression, previous TB treatment, or pregnancy. Even though IPT has excellent evidence of efficacy, the global uptake, including in India, has been sub-optimal.

Dr. Neetal Nevrekar, study coordinator and study team who have been instrumental in implementing this crucial research study, said, “This study will provide further evidence needed to support the adoption of short and ultra-short regimens in high-TB burden settings.”

Dr. Vinayak Kale, dean of B J Government Medical College, said for decades, the institution has been conducting many clinical research studies among people affected by TB and HIV in collaboration with Johns Hopkins University. “It is a privilege to have played a pivotal role in the 1 to 3 HP trial,” he said.