Thai Doctors Advance HIV-AIDS Research; Successfully Detect Allergy Genes for HIV Drug

Thai doctors have developed a new technique to detect genes associated with the development of allergic reactions to and side effects of antiretroviral drugs to individual HIV patients.

Director Thanit Kittiampon of the Offce of Knowledge Management and Development (OKMD) and Faculty of Medicine at Ramathibodi Hospital announced the discovery of the innovative technique, the world’s frst test method to detect up to 100 alleles linked to allergic reactions of Stavudine containing antiretroviral regiments in HIV patients at one go at a cost of less than 1,000 baht.

Dr. Thanit said the new method is cost effective to reduce clinical risk factors for allergic reactions to four drugs including one anti-seizure drug, one anti-hyperuricemic medication and two antiviral drugs. It will be added into the national health insurance system soon.

Pharmacogenomic Project director Wasan Chantrathit said that Thai scientists in the Pharmacogenomics Project applied a liquid chip technique in the research on genes associated with the development of allergic reactions to one of the drugs in the antiretroviral regiments used to treat HIV patients in Thailand.

The research fndings, published in an international journal, will be presented to an international pharmacogenomics conference in the United States this month. At present, the fnal stage of the research is being conducted among 2,000 HIV patients, said Dr. Wasan.

Stavudine, widely used throughout the world, is found to cause long-term irreversible adverse drug reactions as well as nervous system abnormalities.

Since late last year, the World Health Organization has recommended member countries to phase out the use of Stavudine.

However, the discovery makes it possible to safely use this drug, he said.