By KPC Reporter
New research presented at a major global HIV conference has revealed critical evidence gaps that could affect treatment strategies for millions of patients across Africa.
The studies were presented last month at the Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections 2026 in Colorado, United States, where researchers highlighted emerging challenges in managing patients with persistent viraemia while on modern HIV treatment.
Scientists from the Centre for Epidemiological Modelling and Analysis at the University of Nairobi (UoN) presented findings from two major studies—Ndovu and Sungura—focusing on treatment outcomes among children, adolescents and adults living with HIV who continue to show detectable virus levels despite being on dolutegravir-based therapy.
The findings showed that 41 percent of children and adolescents in the study failed to suppress the virus after three months even after receiving enhanced adherence counselling interventions.
Researchers say the results underscore the need for additional research to identify more effective approaches for young patients experiencing treatment failure on Dolutegravir.
The studies also examined treatment outcomes among adults with persistent viraemia while on the same regimen, according to an update published by the UoN.
Researchers found that many patients who recorded two high viral load results while on dolutegravir were still able to suppress the virus without changing treatment.
The finding raises questions about current treatment guidance and whether immediate switching to alternative regimens is always necessary.
Current guidance from the World Health Organization recommends that patients with two consecutive high viral load results may be switched to a protease inhibitor–based regimen if drug resistance testing is unavailable.
However, researchers say stronger data is needed to determine when such switches are necessary, particularly in African settings where treatment resources and patient profiles may differ.
The researchers noted that more context-specific evidence will be crucial to guide future treatment policies and ensure better outcomes for children, adolescents and older adults living with HIV across the continent.