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Risk of death 21% lower in people with HIV-related fungal disease given combination drug treatment 31 July 2026

University of the WitwatersrandRef: https://www.wits.ac.za/news/sources/health-news/2026/risk-of-death-21-lower-in-people-with-hiv-related-fungal-disease-given-combination-drug-treatment.html

Official source

Source domain: wits.ac.za

Collected on 2 August 2026

Always confirm details on the official source before acting.

Our copy (archived 2 August 2026)Official source

What this means

This is a University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) news article dated 31 July 2026 reporting results from the EFFECT clinical trial. In adults with HIV-related cryptococcal disease (cryptococcal antigen positive but without meningitis symptoms), a two-drug oral combination of fluconazole plus flucytosine given for two weeks reduced the risk of death by 21% after six months compared with fluconazole alone. The article notes the study did not show a statistically significant survival difference, but reports no difference in serious adverse events leading to hospitalisation or death and describes the trial’s funding and sponsorship.

Facts

Places

George Local Municipality, Western Cape

Reference

https://www.wits.ac.za/news/sources/health-news/2026/risk-of-death-21-lower-in-people-with-hiv-related-fungal-disease-given-combination-drug-treatment.html

Key Takeaways

  • Date: 31 July 2026
  • Trial: EFFECT clinical trial
  • Population: 604 adults with HIV-related cryptococcal disease (antigen positive, no meningitis symptoms)
  • Sites: 11 sites across South Africa and Tanzania
  • Intervention: fluconazole + flucytosine for 2 weeks (fluconazole once daily; flucytosine four times daily)
  • Control: fluconazole alone for 2 weeks
  • Follow-up: 1, 2.5, and 6 months
  • Outcome: 21% lower risk of death after 6 months (13% vs 17%; 40/304 vs 50/300)
  • Adherence subgroup: 29% lower risk of death (13% vs 18%; 30/239 vs 46/260)
  • Higher antigen subgroup (n=134): 47% lower risk of death with combination therapy
  • Caveat: not statistically significant difference in survival
  • Safety: no difference in serious adverse events leading to hospitalisation or death
  • Sponsorship: City St George’s, University of London
  • Funding: £5.1m grant from UK DHSC, FCDO, MRC and Wellcome; part of EDCTP2 programme supported by the European Union
  • Wits role: hosted the trial coordinating centre
  • Conference: research presented at International AIDS Conference 2026 in Brazil
  • University of the Witwatersrand (Wits)
  • Wits Faculty of Health Sciences
  • Wits Mycology (witsmycology.co.za)
  • EFFECT trial
  • City St George’s, University of London
  • International AIDS Conference 2026
  • UK Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC)
  • Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO)
  • Medical Research Council (MRC)
  • Wellcome
  • European Union (EDCTP2 programme)
  • Professor Nelesh Govender
  • Dr Sile Molloy
  • University of London

Dates

Closing Date

31 July 2026