Studies show(1) that a drug called(2) Truvada can prevent(3) HIV(4) infections. The pill(5) is taken(6) once a day(7). Studies showed it was ninety percent effective when people took(8) it every day.
It was only half(9) as effective when people did not take it every day. Currently(10), in the United States, the drug is only approved for use as a treatment(11) for people already(12) infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS(13).
Now a government advisory committee(14) says Truvada should become(15) the first drug approved for use to prevent HIV. The Food and Drug Administration is not required(16) to follow the advice(17) of its Antiviral Drugs Advisory Committee, but it usually(18) does.
The FDA is expected to decide by June fifteenth. The advisory committee held(19) a twelve-hour hearing(20) on May tenth(21) to consider the evidence for Truvada. The committee urged(22) the FDA to approve the drug for use by those considered at high risk(23) for getting infected(24).
These include gay and bisexual men and heterosexual couples(25) where one partner(26) has HIV. Mitchell Warren, head(27) of the HIV prevention group AVAC, explains(28) that Truvada is a combination pill.
It contains two different antiretroviral drugs that had already been approved individually by the FDA. Then about(29) eight years ago they were approved as a combination. But all of those approvals(30) only related to(31) the use of the drug for treating people who are already infected with HIV.
The manufacturer(32) of Truvada, Gilead, would have to produce what is known as(33) a risk evaluation(34) and mitigation(35) strategy. This would be a plan to help ensure(36) the safe(37) and effective use of Truvada.
The plan would include extensive training(38) for health care providers(39). It would also(40) include testing to make sure(41) people are not already infected with HIV before they take the pill.
Some doctors say Truvada is a step toward(42) ending the threat(43) from AIDS. But some critics say the drug could(44) give people a false sense of security and make them less likely(45) to use condoms(46).
Critics say it could also take financial resources away(47)
from more cost-effective methods of prevention, like using condoms.
Truvada currently sells for about fourteen thousand dollars a year.
The drug would cost much less(48) in developing countries(49), possibly several(50) hundred dollars a year. But that could still be(51) too high(52)
for some countries.
For VOA Special English, I’m Alex Villarreal.You
can read, listen and learn English with more health news at
voaspecialenglish.com. (Adapted from a radio program broadcast 16May2012
Vocabulary
1. Show = mostram 2. Called = chamada 3. Prevent = prevenir 4. HIV = Human Immunodeficiency Virus (Vírus da imunodeficiencia humana) 5. Pill = Pílula, comprimido 6. Taken = tomado(a) 7. once a day = uma vez por dia 8. took = tomavam (pílula) 9. only half = somente metade 10. Currently = atualmente 11. Treatment = tratamento 12. Already = já 13. AIDS = Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (Síndrome da imunodeficiencia adquirida) 14. advisory committee = comitê consultivo 15. should become = deveria tornar-se 16. is not required = não é necessário 17. follow the advice = seguir o conselho 18. usually = normalmente 19. held = realizou 20. hearing = audiência 21. May tenth = dez de maio 22. Urged = incitou, pressionou 23. high risk = alto risco 24. getting infected = ficar infectado 25. couples = casais 26. partner = parceiro 27. head = chefe 28. explains = explica 29. about = aproximadamente 30. approvals = aprovações 31. related to = relacionavam-se a 32. manufacturer = fabricante 33. known as = conhecido(a) como 34. evaluation = avaliação 35. mitigation = amenização 36. ensure = assegurar 37. safe = seguro 38. training = treinamento 39. health care providers = provedores de assistência médica 40. also = também 41. make sure = certificar-se de que 42. step toward = passo na direção de 43. threat = ameaça 44. could = poderia 45. less likely = menos prováveis 46. condoms = preservativos 47. take financial resources away = retirar recursos financeiros 48. would cost much less = custaria muito menos 49. developing countries = países em desenvolvimento 50. several = vários, diversos 51. could still be = poderia ainda ser 52. too high = alto demais