ATLANTA – The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta has issued new guidelines designed to help health care providers counsel patients and determine if taking powerful antiretroviral medications will be an effective prevention strategy.
The new guidelines come just months after a major study found evidence that daily oral use of an antiretroviral drug (TDF/FTC, brand name Truvada) used to treat HIV can also help to prevent sexually-acquired HIV among men who have sex with men when delivered as a part of comprehensive HIV prevention services. The use of the medications in this type of treatment is called pre-exposure prophylaxis PrEP. That study also found that men in the program reported fewer sex partners and increased use of condoms.
The Bay Area Reporter in San Francisco reports the new guidelines are applicable only to men who have sex with men.
The CDC guidelines show that the medications should only be used on persons who are HIV-negative but are confirmed to be at “substantial, on-going high risk for acquiring HIV infection.” Under the guidance, doctors are directed to screen the patients for HIV as well other sexually transmitted infections.
The problem with this prevention method is the cost of the medications, not to mention the on-going costs of monitoring how those powerful medications are impacting the body. The cost of Truvada is about $10,000 a year. The patient also has to have regular blood draws to monitor body functions, like liver and kidney functions as the medications can cause damage to both organs.
This seems a specious and suspect attempt to mine a little more money out of Truvada before its patent runs out. The side effects can be pretty harsh, including severe osteoporsis.
http://www.aidsmeds.com/archive/Truvada_1584.shtml