Why in news?
WHO has recommended the use of HIV drug DTG as first and second-line therapy for people, including pregnant women.
About the drug:
- The antiretroviral drug, used together with other drugs to treat HIV / AIDS is Dolutegravir (DTG), marketed under the brand name Tivicay.
- Initial study discoveries of a possible link in infants born to women using the medicines were made between DTG and neural tube defects (cerebral and spinal cord birth defects).
- However, new studies have shown that DTG is more safe, more easy to take and less of an adverse compound.
- The transition to DTG-based care for HIV in 2019 is recorded in 82 low and middle-income countries.
