Is there a pill that treats HIV?

In 2005 approximately 2 million people died due to AIDS-related illnesses, due to progression in treatment for HIV, these AIDS-related deaths declined to around 1.1 million in 2015*.


Asked by: Anonymous

Last November, a drug called Truvada made headlines following trial results suggesting it can reduce the risk of HIV infection by around 50 per cent. The drug combines two anti-viral compounds and is already used to treat patients after they’ve become HIV positive.

However, scientists say more work is needed to confirm the findings, and even if the drug does prove helpful, it remains too expensive for use by many high-risk groups.

*According to UNAIDS

Subscribe to BBC Focus magazine for fascinating new Q&As every month and follow @sciencefocusQA on Twitter for your daily dose of fun science facts.