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Original Article: bit.ly/1DtLnel
The value of pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP, in HIV-negative individuals at risk for infection was one of the hottest topics at CROI 2015, according to Joel Gallant, MD, MPH, immediate past chair of the HIV Medicine Association, medical director of specialty services at Southwest CARE Center in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and board member of the International Antiviral Society-USA.
Infectious Disease News spoke with Gallant about five important lessons learned at this year’s conference on the prevention of HIV and the future clinical implications of some of the major studies that were presented.
PrEP is effective, with minimal drug resistance
The Pragmatic Open-Label Randomized Trial of Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PROUD) study found that a PrEP regimen consisting of Truvada (tenofovir/emtricitabine [TDF/FTC]; Gilead Sciences) provides significant protection against HIV, surpassing the levels of protection previously noted in placebo-controlled trials. In the study, 545 high-risk men who have sex with men (MSM) were randomly assigned to receive open-label daily TDF/FTC either immediately or after a 12-month deferral. Three HIV infections occurred in the group receiving immediate PrEP vs. 19 in the deferred group, an 86% reduction.
Additionally, the PROUD study found that while three patients developed resistance to the drug FTC, none became resistant to TDF.
“They found little drug resistance and no evidence of higher risk behavior among PrEP takers, undermining two of the commonly voiced arguments against PrEP,” Gallant said.
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