PrEP is an experimental HIV prevention strategy that uses antiretroviral drugs in HIV negative people before exposure to prevent infection.  This page features news updates on PrEP research findings.

The AIDS Vaccine Advocacy Coalition (AVAC) provides basic information on pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), one of the options being tested now as part of the effort to identify additional tools to reduce the risk of HIV transmission.

PrEP has been found to be effective in reducing HIV transmission to breastfed infants.

A number of PrEP trials are taking place around the world. AVAC provides information including a timeline and map of past, present and future PrEP trials. Also provided is information on the study populations, the drugs being tested in the trials, and the dosing strategies being investigated. Info about PrEp trials on the AVAC website.

Heterosexual PrEP trials a succcess

Two new studies show that taking antiretrovirals as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) reduces HIV transmission by up to 73% among heterosexual couples. Read more ...

 

FEM-PrEP study stops early

The FEM-PrEP trial - which looked at once-daily administration of the antiretroviral drug Truvada (emtricitabine and tenofovir) versus a placebo among high-risk heterosexual, HIV-negative women for preventing HIV infection - has been halted due to inability to determine effectiveness. Investigators found that new HIV infections among participants in the Truvada arm equaled the number of infections in those assigned to the placebo arm.

- 18 April 2011

iPrEx study results

The results of a large clinical trial of daily oral PrEP released in November 2010 showed that Truvada is effective in reducing sexual acquisition of HIV among men who have sex with men (MSM). See AFAO's Briefing Paper on the iPrEx study results.

PrEPARE Project

The University of NSW and AFAO recently conducted a survey on gay men's attitudes towards HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis. Over 1,500 men took part in the sur vey which examined knowledge and expectations of PrEP and the circumstances in which it might be used. Preliminary results will be available in July 2011. More info at http://prepareproject.nchsr.org/

CDC issues interim guidance

In January 2011 the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued health-care providers with interim guidance on the provision of PrEP in adult men who have sex with men and who are at high risk for sexual acquisition of HIV. More info at CDC website

iPrEx rollover study

All participants in the iPrEx trial have been invited to take part in an open-label rollover study. The iPrEx rollover study will help determine whether adherence and drug exposure increases, or if risk behavior changes, when participants receive information that the original iPrEx study has provided regarding the efficacy of PrEP. More info on iPrEx website