PopART study primary results

Primary results from the largest community-randomised trial of the universal HIV test-and-treat strategy are published. The HPTN 071 – Population Effects of Antiretroviral Therapy to Reduce HIV Transmission (PopART) – trial randomised urban populations to receive either standard-of-care, a prevention intervention with universal ART, or the prevention package with ART provided based on CD4 thresholds (initially 350, then 500, then universal).

Surprisingly, despite high viral suppression across the board, only the last of these significantly reduced the number of new HIV infections in the population. The results imply that even with 90-90-90 targets met, there is sufficient ongoing transmission that means treatment alone is unlikely to end the epidemic in the highest prevalence areas.