FDA Endorses Pill to prevent HIV
On May 10, 2012, the FDA panel gave their stamp of approval on the daily pill, Truvada, that prevents healthy people from getting HIV. The FDA usually follows the panel’s advice but is not required to do so. The FDA is expected to make an announcement by June 15th on their final decision.
A three-year study found that a daily dose of Truvada could cut the risk of infection in healthy gay and bisexual men by 42% when associated with condoms and counseling. A different study showed that Truvada reduced the risk by 75% in heterosexual couples when one partner was infected with the HIV and the other was healthy.
Researchers worry that this drug might reduce the use of condoms and patients may forget to take the pill every day.
Truvada is marketed by Gilead Science since 2004. They are based in Foster City, California. It sells for $900 a month or about $11,000 a year. The AIDS Healthcare Foundation disapproves of this drug, because they believe that 20 HIV-positive patients can be treated for the same cost of one patient with Truvada.
What do you think of this pill?
Read the original article here—courtesy of Latimes.com
- Tags: Aging & Wellness AIDS HIV PILL Truvada
- Professional Medical
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