TherapyEdge and RightToCare Successfully Launch the New TherapyEdge Down Referral Software Patient Management System

JOHANNESBURG--(Business Wire)--
TherapyEdge ABL and Right to Care are pleased to announce the first year
experience of down referral (DR) using its proprietary patient management
electronic record system named TherapyEdge Down Referral Module, presented at
the 4th Southern African AIDS conference (Durban, April 2009).

The poster # 269 is describing the successful implementation of a Decision
Support and Management Electronic System (TherapyEdge) for Down Referral of HIV
Patients on HAART to a Primary Health Care (PHC) Centre in South Africa. Few
patients were lost to follow up (<2%) and 70% of defaulters were traced and are
back in care, maintaining the HIV patients' data simultaneously over the network
of initiation (PHC and sister clinic sites). HIV treatment monitoring by PHC
nurses shows that a task shifting model is possible when facilitated by an
expert system under the supervision of the trained health workers. More details
about the one-year experience available at
http://www.ablsa.com/site/en/product_rc.html.

In response to the global HIV crisis, TherapyEdge and Right to Care have
developed a model of care for antiretroviral therapy treated patients from
treatment initiation sites to primary health care centers, an activity which is
termed "Down Referral". Down Referral is a mechanism to increase access to care
for large numbers of patients requiring Anti-RetroViral (ARV) therapy in
resource poor countries with a high prevalence of HIV-1 infection, and a
shortage of trained health workers. The high demand for services coupled with
limited human resources creates an incredible strain on health professionals and
HIV clinics. Down referral to primary health care sites often ensures that
patients receive treatment within walking distance of their homes, reducing the
financial burden associated with transport and loss of income for clinic visits.
Access to treatment sites is essential to treatment continuity and adherence.

RightToCare and TherapyEdge actively cooperated to develop innovative solutions
for efficiently scaling up the ARV program using decentralized ARV procurement
network to existing primary health care clinics and at the same time maintain
optimal control and traceability of the HIV patient, optimal disease management
under the supervision of the medical doctors, and reduce the HIV patient's
"lost-to-follow-up".

The TherapyEdge Down Referral Module uses data collections and decision support
based innovations, coupled with simple real-time connectivity, which are at the
level of every HIV clinic in emerging countries. It helps ensure close
monitoring of the HIV patients at every step of the down referred procedure

"This new patient management tool development is vital if we are going to reach
the target set by President Zuma of 80% ARV treatment for all those in need, or
3 million patients on treatment by 2011, yet maintain optimal disease management
without loss-to-follow-up" says Professor Ian Sanne, Managing Director at Right
to Care, and Associate Professor Infectious Disease University of the
Witwatersrand. Sanne`s reference is to the government`s National Strategic Plan
2007-2011, announced in 2007, and supported by President Zuma.

By efficiently decentralizing treatment, the systemized down referral model of
care, facilitated by the decision and management electronic system will enable
the expansion of ARV provision through existing primary health care
infrastructure and primary health care nurses.

Improved service delivery and electronic information systems deployed at sites
including shorter waiting times, planned pharmacy supply, and has led to larger
quantities of patients seen by trained primary health nurses and counselors.

The extension of this model to other sites, including private practitioners,
could be a major step forward in managing South Africa`s ambitious ARV roll out
program, and will provide ongoing provision of technical assistance to
government policy makers in HIV care and treatment.

Relevant links:

http://www.usaid.gov/our_work/global_health/aids/TechAreas/caresupport/arvfactsheet.html

http://www.righttocare.org/content/view/50/85/

About RightToCare: Right to Care is a non-profit (Section 21) company in South
Africa established in 2001. Its aim is to build public- and private-sector
capacity for the provision of affordable antiretroviral therapy.
www.righttocare.org

About TherapyEdge, Inc. and ABL, S.A.: Advanced Biological Laboratories (ABL) is
a biotech company founded in 2000 as a spin-off from the European academic
research centre, CRP-Santé, Luxembourg. and in 2004, acquired the control of
TherapyEdge, Inc. TherapyEdge is a biotech company founded in 2000 as a spin-off
from Triangle Pharmaceuticals, Inc., which had been acquired by Gilead Sciences
in December 2002. TherapyEdge and ABL's expertise lies within infectious
diseases, with particular focus on resistance patterns and clinical outcome
predictors for HIV-1, tuberculosis, hepatitis, malaria and human papillomavirus
(HPV) infections. http://www.therapyedge.com

Ron Snapper
ABL TherapyEdge South Africa Pty
Mobile: +27 74 10 28 629
Fax: +27 86 627 1718
email: ron@therapyedge.com
www.therapyedge.co.za
or
Bruce Conradie
Communications Officer
Right to Care
Treating AIDS seriously
Tel: +27 11 276-8929; Cell: +27 83 461-4130
Email: bruce.conradie@righttocare.org
www.righttocare.org

Copyright Business Wire 2009