July 18, 2012
UNAIDS on Tuesday hailed the US Food and Drug Administration's decision to approve Truvada to prevent HIV infection. The pill, which combines emtricitabine and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate, already is in use as an HIV treatment. UNAIDS noted that the new approval allows its use "to prevent the sexual transmission of HIV for people who do not have HIV, but who are at high risk of being exposed to the virus." FDA approved Truvada's use for pre-exposure prophylaxis as part of a broader HIV prevention strategy that includes condom use and other safer sex practices, risk-reduction counseling, and control of other STDs.