New York Times Magazine Examines HIV/AIDS Experimental Treatment Tenofovir PrEP

Researchers have made progress in treating people already living with HIV/AIDS, but when it comes to preventing the virus' spread, "success is spotty," the New York Times Magazine reports. "Intrigued by the prospects" of preventing HIV transmission among high-risk groups, researchers have launched several clinical trials to test the efficacy of pre-exposure prophylaxis. The trials all utilize the antiretroviral tenofovir because it appears "safer" than other HIV/AIDS medications currently available. "Optimistic mathematical models show that if tenofovir PrEP is effective 90% of the time and is used by 90% of the people who are at the highest risk of becoming infected, it could cut new HIV infections in a community by more than 80% in a few years." Regardless of tenofovir PrEP's effectiveness, it "will not substitute for an AIDS vaccine," the Times reports, noting, "Then again, no AIDS vaccine is on the near horizon" (Cohen, New York Times, 1/22).

Back to other news for January 23, 2006