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adherence, fda approval of truvada for prep, prep, the starThe Star trips up on technicalities
Kim Johnson
20 July 2012
The publication of erroneous information by The Star on the approval of the use pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) spoils otherwise savvy coverage.
This week The Star marked the groundbreaking approval of the use of PrEP in the United States by publishing a report and an editorial on the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) decision.
The Star’s coverage must be applauded for stressing that like medical male circumcision, PrEP is not a silver bullet capable of stopping the HIV pandemic in its tracks.
But both pieces made a technical misstep in incorrectly suggesting that PrEP is effective when taken “a day before and a day after exposure”. According to the FDA statement, once started, PrEP must be taken daily to maximise its preventative effects.
Ironically this erroneous information could make PrEP seem like a quick fix, undermining the message The Star has sought to highlight in the first place, emphasising that PrEP is not totally effective in preventing HIV infection.
According to the FDA statement the iPrEx trial proved that daily adherence to PrEP was vital: “Efficacy was strongly correlated with drug adherence in this trial”.
The treatment will really only be on offer to HIV-negative individuals who are at high (e.g. consistent) risk of HIV exposure (for example HIV-negative people with HIV-positive partners). This reinforces the point that PrEP needs to be taken consistently so that there is enough of the drug in the body to form a constant barrier to HIV infection
PrEP is when ARVs (emtricitabine and tenofovir are combined in the Truvada tablet) are taken in anticipation of HIV exposure in order to decrease a person’s chances of contracting the virus.
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