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Combination antiretroviral therapy (ART) has long been known to drive viral replication to levels below the limit of detection, leading to significant improvements in patients' health. Given that ART also decreases the amount of HIV present in genital secretions, experts have speculated that it should also reduce sexual transmission of HIV. Several observational studies — most recently, the Partners in Prevention HSV/HIV Transmission Study (JW AIDS Clin Care Jun 7 2010) — have supported this hypothesis, but only a randomized, controlled trial could provide definitive proof. Enter the HPTN 052 study.
The results of this trial were released in May 2011, after the data and safety monitoring board (DSMB) concluded that the study had demonstrated…