Journal of the American Medical Association | September 5, 2012
Read the PublicationOn July 16, 2012, emtricitabine/tenofovir (Truvada; Gilead Sciences) became the first drug approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) for adults at high risk. Clinical trials have demonstrated that daily use of oral antiretroviral drugs can reduce the risk of HIV acquisition through sexual intercourse. With 50 000 new HIV infections per year in the United States and 2 million per year worldwide, PrEP could become a major component of “combination prevention” along with condoms, counseling, testing, and treatment.