WASHINGTON (AFP) – The first-ever
daily pill to help prevent against HIV was approved Monday by US
regulators for use in uninfected adults who are at risk for getting the
virus that causes AIDS.
Truvada, made by Gilead Sciences in
California, has been on the market since 2004 and was approved by the
Food and Drug Administration for a new use as a tool to help ward off
HIV in otherwise healthy people, in combination with safe sex and
regular testing.
The pill as pre-exposure prophylaxis
(PrEP) has been hailed by some AIDS experts as a potent new tool
against human immunodeficiency virus, but some health care providers are
concerned it could encourage risky sex behavior.
In addition, the regimen is estimated to cost around $14,000 per year, making it out of reach of many.
“Truvada alone should not be used to
prevent HIV infection,” said Debra Birnkrant, director of the division
of antiviral products at the FDA.
“Truvada
as PrEP represents another effective, evidence-based approach that can
be added to other prevention methods to help reduce the spread of HIV.”
The FDA said Truvada should be used
as “part of a comprehensive HIV prevention strategy that includes other
prevention methods, such as safe sex practices, risk reduction
counseling, and regular HIV testing.”
Truvada was previously approved as a
treatment for people infected with HIV to be used in combination with
other antiretroviral drugs.
The decision by the FDA followed the
advice of an independent panel in May that supported Truvada for
prevention in uninfected people, after clinical trials showed it could
lower the risk of HIV in gay men and heterosexual couples.
Source: Vanguard Nigeria.
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