Private MD News

Home | News | HIV monitoring/Treatment/Testing/Post Diagnos

Truvada receives approval for prevention of HIV

Updated: 2012-07-17 13:19:26 CST Category: HIV monitoring/Treatment/Testing/Post Diagnos

At-risk individuals who are HIV-negative may now protect themselves from infection with the help of the antiretroviral Truvada, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This medication must be combined with safer sex practices and regular STD testing.

Truvada is available for the treatment of HIV in patients aged 12 years and older. The FDA's new approval may help prevent infection among HIV-negative individuals who have infected partners or engage in high-risk behavior.

"Today's approval marks an important milestone in our fight against HIV," said FDA commissioner Margaret Hamburg, M.D. "Every year, about 50,000 U.S. adults and adolescents are diagnosed with HIV infection, despite the availability of prevention methods and strategies to educate, test, and care for people living with the disease. New treatments as well as prevention methods are needed to fight the HIV epidemic in this country."

The agency's latest decision about Truvada is based on two clinical trials. One included serodiscordant couples, in which two individuals had differing HIV statuses. The other included men and transgender women who had sex with men and engaged in other risky behavior, such as inconsistent condom use.

Truvada helped decrease the risk of HIV infection in these studies by 75 and 42 percent compared to a placebo, respectively.

HIV-negative individuals who receive a prescription for Truvada still need to undergo regular STD testing in order to monitor their health status.

Related Articles from Private MD:

• Despite challenges, HIV can be treated effectively
  
• Few HIV patients are given herpes 2 testing
  
• Acne drug may help fight the progression of HIV
  
• Black infants much more likely to be born with HIV than whites
  
• Study: HIV may lead to decreased cognitive function
  

Share on Facebook

Subscribe to Private MD Health News RSS Feed:

News Categories:

Advanced Lipid Treatment I   Allergy Testing   Anemia and RBC disorders   Autoimmune Diseases   Bariatric Lab Testing   Blood and Blood Diseases   Breast   Cancer Detection and Tumor Markers   Celiac Disease Testing   Chlamydia   Coagulation and blood clotting disorders   Colon   Diabetes   DNA, Paternity and Genetic testing   Drug Screening   Environmental Toxin Testing   Female Specific Tests   Gastrointestinal Diseases   General Health   General Wellness   Heart Health and Cholesterol   Herpes   HIV   HIV monitoring/Treatment/Testing/Post Diagnos   Hormones and Metabolism   Infectious Diseases   Infertility Testing-Male   Infertitlity Hormone Testing   Kidney Diseases   Leukemia and WBC disorders   Liver   Liver Diseases   Lyme Disease   Male Specific Tests   Menopause/Peri-Menopausal Diagnosis   Musculoskeletal Diseases   Organ Specific Testing   Ovarian   Prostate   Sexually Transmitted Diseases   Thyroid Diseases   Vitamin D Deficiency-Diagnosis and Treatment   

Visit the Health News Archive: Click Here

Questions about online blood testing or how to order a lab test? Click here to get started or call us toll-free at 1.877.283.7882. Our professionals are ready to assist you.