Drug Shows Promise In Preventing HIV Infection

Drug Shows Promise In Preventing HIV Infection

According to a recent fact sheet issued by AVAC (Global Advocacy for HIV Prevention), recent studies of a pill called Truvada suggest that the pill shows considerable promise as a way of preventing the transmission of HIV during unprotected sex.

There are two Antiretroviral drugs (ARV)s currently being tested in "PrEP safety and efficacy trials":

- Tenofovir disoproxyl fumarate (TDF), marketed as Viread, and

- a combination of TDF and emtricitabine (FTC) marketed as Truvada.

What is PrEP?

PrEP is an experimental approach that would use antiretroviral medications (ARVs) to reduce the risk of HIV infection to HIV-negative people.

Scientists have focused on the two above drugs because they are taken once a day, have relatively low rates of side effects, and because there is significant data on their long-term safety and resistance profiles in HIV-positive people. The current large-scale trials are testing once-daily PrEP and there is expanding research around the concept of intermittent use of PrEP.

Truvada has shown considerable promise. In tests run on the drug, some people were given the actual drug while others were given a placebo. More than 2,500 patients participated in the study. Participants were at high risk for HIV infection based on self-reports of multiple sex partners, engagement in unsafe sex, history of sexually transmitted infections and high rates of alcohol use.

The results of the study were as follows. Thirty four HIV infections occurred among participants receiving Truvada. Sixty six participants receiving the placebo became infected. Researchers Estimated that Truvada cut potential infections by 43.8%. For patients who carefully took the drug regularly the reduction in infections was 50.2 %.

There are problems. Currently, Truvada costs $36 per pill or about $13,000 per year. Project Inform, in San Francisco, strongly urges people not to take Truvada on their own. They should only do so with the close supervision of a qualified physician.

They should not use Truvada given them by people who are already HIV positive. This could put both of them at risk. In addition, according to study results, the drug must be taken every day for maximum benefit. Behavioral counseling and condom use remain important parts of a program to prevent the spread of HIV, even for those taking Truvada.

You may see a copy of the statement of Project Inform, and a fact sheet on pre-exposure medicine therapies,by clicking on the following link and then clicking on the links at the bottom of the web based copy of this article.

Here is the link to get you started: http://www.calcomui.org/nwslttr110410.html

Boyce Hinman

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