U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Recommends Expanding Use Of PrEP In High Risk People To Prevent Infection
In an effort to eliminate nearly 40,000 new HIV infections in the U.S. each year, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommended Truvada, which can reduce the risk of infection by 92% when taken daily, should be offered to more patients. High cost has been a barrier, and so far fewer than 10% of high-risk people take the medication.
The Associated Press:
Daily HIV Prevention Pill Urged For Healthy People At Risk
Doctors should offer a daily HIV prevention pill to healthy people who are at high risk of getting infected with the virus, an influential health care panel recommended Tuesday. The new guidelines aim to help cut the nearly 40,000 new HIV infections in the U.S. each year. Screening people for the HIV virus also is critical. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force reiterated its long-standing advice that everyone ages 15 to 65 — and anyone who's pregnant — should be regularly screened, a step to early, life-saving treatment. (6/11)
NPR:
PrEP To Prevent HIV Infection In High-Risk People Should Be Expanded, Panel Says
There's lots of evidence that preexposure prophylaxis — also known as PrEP — is effective. The Food and Drug Administration-approved pill Truvada contains two antiretroviral medicines (tenofovir and emtricitabine). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention cites evidence that PrEP can reduce the risk of HIV infection by up to 92% in people who are at high risk and who take the drug consistently. The CDC recommended PrEP several years ago and calls it "a powerful HIV prevention tool," but so far uptake of PrEP has been slow. (Aubrey, 6/11)
The Hill:
Influential Health Panel Recommends Daily HIV Prevention Pill
AIDS prevention groups said the new recommendation should dramatically widen the availability of PrEP. “Making PrEP available without cost-sharing eliminates a major barrier to this landmark HIV prevention tool,” said Michael Ruppal, executive director of The AIDS Institute. “At a time when out-of-pocket costs are rising for patients as they seek access to medications, this recommendation is a win both for patients and public health.” (Weixel, 6/11)
