A new clinical trial comparing two categories of anti-retroviral medications has been launched in the US, it has been announced.

Patients with HIV sometimes develop cognitive disorders as a result of the infection attacking their brain and central nervous system (CNS).

Now researchers at the HIV Neurobehavioral Research Centre at the University of California – San Diego intend to compare how effective drugs which specifically target the CNS are compared to those that do not.

Around 120 HIV patients who are living with a reduction in brain function are expected to take part in the trial.

Dr Ronald Ellis, associate professor in neurosciences at the university and the leader of the study, commented: "The prevalence of HIV-associated brain disorders is continuing to increase due, in part, to the prolonged life span of individuals who are surviving well on highly active antiretroviral treatments."

"This study is designed to provide a definitive answer to a question that has occupied the attention of hundreds of researchers and clinicians for many years: do antiretroviral medications that directly target the brain actually provide better outcomes for patients in terms of cognitive benefit?" he said.

Masters, a global healthcare solutions provider, can source comparator drugs from over 200 manufacturers across the world on behalf of researchers conducting clinical trials.