FDA approves first pill to help prevent HIV

The Food and Drug Administration has approved the first drug shown to reduce the risk of HIV infection, a milestone in the 30-year battle against the virus that causes AIDS.

The agency approved Gilead Sciences’ pill Truvada as a preventive measure for people who are at high risk of acquiring HIV, such as those who have sex with HIV-infected partners.

Gilead Sciences Inc. has marketed Truvada since 2004 as a treatment for people who are infected with the virus.

But company studies have shown the drug can prevent people from contracting HIV when used as a precautionary measure.

A three-year study found that daily doses cut the risk of infection in healthy gay and bisexual men by 42 percent, when accompanied by condoms and counseling.

Truvada information from company’s website:

Truvada is taken once a day in combination therapy.

Truvada is an anti-HIV drug in the nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI or “nuke”) family and is always given in combination with other anti-HIV drugs. To learn more about how this once-a-day HIV treatment is used, click here.

It is important for anyone taking Truvada to note that Truvada:

Does not cure HIV or AIDS
Has not been shown to lower your chance of passing HIV to others
Should only be taken in combination with other drugs for HIV