A recent study has claimed that the use of antiretroviral drugs could reduce the risk of transmitting the HIV virus to the partners by 96%. It was a large study carried out by the AIDS experts from Institute of Global Health and Infectious Diseases at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The study involved mainly heterosexual couples in Africa, India and the Americas.

The results of the study have been considered as a milestone in the history of the deadly viral disease. HIV/AIDS claim the lives of millions of people worldwide, particularly of people from developing countries. The disease has been declared as worst endemic in the history of world.

The clinical trials of the study which started in 2005, involved 1,763 couples, out of which 97% were heterosexual. The study was carried out at 13 sites across Africa, Asia and America.

Myron Cohen, Lead Investigator of the study said that the trails were designed to find out the benefits of using antiretroviral drugs for the partners of HIV patients and the results found that the drug was significantly beneficial.