Dr Mina John
Dr Mina John
Utilising drug concentration monitoring to improve personalisation of long-acting antiretroviral therapy in patients living with HIV
Royal Perth Hospital
Funding: $17,195
Coordinating Principal Investigator: Dr Mina John
Co-Investigators: A/Prof Sam Salman, Dr Benedict Tan
There have been considerable advances in the treatment of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The introduction of daily oral highly active antiretroviral therapy (ART) has allowed for individuals to enjoy a normal life expectancy with appropriate treatment and medication adherence. Now a new injectable long-acting ART has emerged that will change the way HIV is treated.
The new long-acting injectable therapy is likely to be preferred by patients and has the potential to make significant improvements to their quality of life by addressing psychosocial factors surrounding traditional daily oral antiretroviral therapy.
A remaining concern surrounding fixed-dose injections has been the large variability in the concentrations of these drugs between injection periods. In the clinical trials, there was more than a 10-fold variability in drug concentration, and this is expected to be more pronounced outside the controlled setting of a clinical trial.
Knowledge of drug concentration is essential for HIV patients, as there are risks of developing drug resistance, disease, and transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) if drug concentrations are subtherapeutic.
Dr John and her team aim to gain a greater understanding of individual factors that may contribute to this large variability with a vision to personalise treatment for patients through novel utilisation of therapeutic drug monitoring. The study will also use ultrasounds to assess the injection site to further explore why patients may experience different outcomes that could be caused by the injection site and depth.
This project aims to improve the quality of life for patients living with HIV and allow for treatment to be tailored according to individual response and develop the means for patients living with HIV to have access to optimal treatment and disease control. This will also serve wider public health implications and the subsequent development of an HIV clinic with ready access to drug concentration monitoring and injection site imaging to tailor treatment according to each unique individual's responses.
Utilising drug concentration monitoring to improve personalisation of long-acting antiretroviral therapy in patients living with HIV
Royal Perth Hospital
Funding: $17,195
Coordinating Principal Investigator: Dr Mina John
Co-Investigators: A/Prof Sam Salman, Dr Benedict Tan
There have been considerable advances in the treatment of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The introduction of daily oral highly active antiretroviral therapy (ART) has allowed for individuals to enjoy a normal life expectancy with appropriate treatment and medication adherence. Now a new injectable long-acting ART has emerged that will change the way HIV is treated.
The new long-acting injectable therapy is likely to be preferred by patients and has the potential to make significant improvements to their quality of life by addressing psychosocial factors surrounding traditional daily oral antiretroviral therapy.
A remaining concern surrounding fixed-dose injections has been the large variability in the concentrations of these drugs between injection periods. In the clinical trials, there was more than a 10-fold variability in drug concentration, and this is expected to be more pronounced outside the controlled setting of a clinical trial.
Knowledge of drug concentration is essential for HIV patients, as there are risks of developing drug resistance, disease, and transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) if drug concentrations are subtherapeutic.
Dr John and her team aim to gain a greater understanding of individual factors that may contribute to this large variability with a vision to personalise treatment for patients through novel utilisation of therapeutic drug monitoring. The study will also use ultrasounds to assess the injection site to further explore why patients may experience different outcomes that could be caused by the injection site and depth.
This project aims to improve the quality of life for patients living with HIV and allow for treatment to be tailored according to individual response and develop the means for patients living with HIV to have access to optimal treatment and disease control. This will also serve wider public health implications and the subsequent development of an HIV clinic with ready access to drug concentration monitoring and injection site imaging to tailor treatment according to each unique individual's responses.