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Data suggests HIV antigen-antibody combo treatment is effective

10 Feb 2009

A new antigen-antibody combination assay could be useful for high-volume screening to identify people with acute HIV infection which would not be spotted by traditional HIV antibody tests, according to new research.

Presented by Johns Hopkins University and pharmaceutical firm Abbot, among others, the research was made available at the 16th Conference of Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections.

Dr John Hackett from Abbott''s global HIV surveillance programme, commented: "The current method for detection of acute infections is expensive and labour-intensive pooled nucleic acid testing."

He added the new assay is both "reliable" and "cost-effective", as well as providing "important benefits" for HIV prevention methods.

Earlier this month, Abbott announced that the waiting period under the US Hart-Scott-Rodino antitrust improvements act of 1976, which was applicable to the firm''s tender offer to buy the outstanding shares of Advanced Medical Optics'' common stock, expired at midnight on February 5th.

This resulted in the satisfaction of one of the criteria to consummate the transaction.