On-demand prophylaxis protects against HIV infection in at-risk men

Randomised trial shows pre-exposure prophylaxis reduced the risk of HIV transmission by 86%.

Research found that pre-exposure prophylaxis, taken at the time of sexual activity, reduced the risk of HIV transmission by 86% compared with placebo among men who have sex with men. In the image, close up of Truveda pill used for pre-exposure prophylaxis

Pre-exposure prophylaxis is a potential intervention that could reduce the transmission of HIV to people at high risk, such as men who have sex with men (MSM). However, studies have returned conflicting results, possibly due to low adherence to a daily regimen. 

Research published in the New England Journal of Medicine (online 3 December 2015)[1]
has found that taking tenofovir disoproxil fumarate combined with emtricitabine at the time of sexual activity, reduced the risk of HIV transmission by 86% compared with placebo among MSM. 

During a median follow-up of 9.3 months, two (1.0%) of 199 men randomised to prophylaxis became infected with HIV-1 compared with 14 (7.0%) of 201 men in the placebo group. 

The researchers, from France and Canada, say the findings support the use of prophylaxis for men at high-risk of HIV transmission. 

References

[1] Molina JM, Capitant C, Spire B et al. On-demand preexposure prophylaxis in men at high risk for HIV-1 infection. New England Journal of Medicine 2015. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa1506273

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Citation
The Pharmaceutical Journal, On-demand prophylaxis protects against HIV infection in at-risk men;Online:DOI:10.1211/PJ.2015.20200222

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