Aa
Viread
I saw a stock recommendation for Gilead Sciences
claiming Viread was being used "off label" by persons
at risk for catching HIV to prevent possible infection.
The story was that this might be approved for this purpose
by the FDA.
Is there anything to it?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
You are referring to last Sunday's article in the NY Times Magazine about the possibility that tenofovir (Viread) might prevent HIV transmission when taken as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PREP, as opposed to post-exposure prophylaxis, PEP). Specifically, people might use it prior to a risky sexual exposure, e.g. gay men before a night at a public sex venue such as a bath house. http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/22/magazine/22wwln_essay.html?_r=1
Other drugs also might work, but tenofovir has sufficiently few side effects that it might actually be practical as a prevention strategy. This has been an area of intense interest in HIV prevention in the past couple of years, and several reasearch studies are underway to see if it works. It is important, however, to not assume it is beneficial. Among other things, widespread use in this fashion might just stimulate evoluation of high levels of resistance to tenofovir and related anti-retroviral drugs; not only would prevention effectiveness decline, but we might lose ground in ability to treat infected people. Also, widespread use might actually increase HIV transmission if the prevention benefit is outweighed by reductions in other safer sex habits and practices. So even if the studies show possible effectiveness, FDA approval for this purpose might be uncertain.
Until the research results are in and these issues are resolved, PREP is not recommended by any public health, STD, or HIV/AIDS experts.
HHH, MD
Other drugs also might work, but tenofovir has sufficiently few side effects that it might actually be practical as a prevention strategy. This has been an area of intense interest in HIV prevention in the past couple of years, and several reasearch studies are underway to see if it works. It is important, however, to not assume it is beneficial. Among other things, widespread use in this fashion might just stimulate evoluation of high levels of resistance to tenofovir and related anti-retroviral drugs; not only would prevention effectiveness decline, but we might lose ground in ability to treat infected people. Also, widespread use might actually increase HIV transmission if the prevention benefit is outweighed by reductions in other safer sex habits and practices. So even if the studies show possible effectiveness, FDA approval for this purpose might be uncertain.
Until the research results are in and these issues are resolved, PREP is not recommended by any public health, STD, or HIV/AIDS experts.
HHH, MD
Not sure my question is worded correctly. I mean is there
anything to Viread being an effective drug for the prevention
of HIV?
anything to Viread being an effective drug for the prevention
of HIV?
You are reading content posted in the STDs Forum
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Millions of people are diagnosed with STDs in the U.S. each year.
STDs can't be transmitted by casual contact, like hugging or touching.
Syphilis is an STD that is transmitted by oral, genital and anal sex.
