Nevirapine resistance fears

[dArKeR]

Pretoria

Preliminary studies into the efficacy of the anti-Aids drug nevirapine have raised concerns about patients developing resistance to the drug, the South African health ministry said on Monday.

Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang and the nine provincial health MECs were briefed at the weekend about two separate studies -- one by the drug's manufacturer Boehringer Ingelheim, and the other jointly by the National Institute for Communicable Diseases and the Chris Hani-Baragwanath Hospital's health research unit.

"The presentation raised some challenges, mainly about the development of resistance and the need to conduct further research to inform policy development in this area," the ministry said in a statement.

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