Study of "Preventative" Truvada Halted

[thunter34]

Gilead has stopped the study using Truvada as a preventative measure against infection after partial results so it to be doing no good.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42644016/ns/health-aids/

It seems it has shown some benefit for use in gay men - when provided with condoms and counseling (DUH), but not so much in women.

I've never been all that wild about this idea.

DISCUSS...

[Miss Philicia]

How dare you not link to the article on aidsmeds...

http://www.aidsmeds.com/articles/hiv_femprep_truvada_1667_20270.shtml

btw, it seems half the reason that the study failed in the females is because they lied about taking their medication 95% of the time, and in fact fully half of them weren't even taking it.  I mean, does it take a rocket science to conclude that if human behavior can't employ condoms consistently when HIV-negative that they're going to be any better with a pill?

I'm still reading it, but does this at all effect the feminine vaginal preventive gel hopes?

[ngo1]

I know there's randomization in these studies but is it out of the realm of possibility that Truvada "seemed" to reduce the risk in MSM simply because these guys can easily negotiate condom use something that doesn't come so easy for women. I'm not so mad about ARVs as a preventive measure

[xman]

Did the study involve positive individuals on therapy? It should be extremely unlikely to transmit the virus combining PrEP and ARV treatment of the infected person.

[Miss Philicia]

Is it too much to ask that one read the applicable links before responding?  I guess so.

[newt]

I would be surprised if, like oral contraceptives, a real motivation to take the drug and adherence weren't the keys to the stats.

- matt

[xman]

Is it too much to ask that one read the applicable links before responding?  I guess so.

they are no details in the article reguarding the partners of the women and if they're on therapy or not.

[Miss Philicia]

they are no details in the article reguarding the partners of the women and if they're on therapy or not.

I don't really understand why you would deem that useful for the study in terms of how the real world works. 

[Matt39]

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/230101.php

Doctors To FDA: "HIV Prevention Pill" Not Ready For Approval

Last week, a group of 55 U.S. physicians sent a letter to the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA), urging the agency not to approve the use of Gilead's HIV/AIDS treatment drug Truvada for use as an HIV prevention pill - also known as "pre-exposure prophylaxis" (PrEP).

In the letter, spearheaded by AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the physicians detail a number of concerns raised by first-in humans efficacy data emerging from the iPrEX study of Truvada to prevent HIV transmission. (In the letter, Truvada is referred to by the drug formulation names: tenofovir disoproxil fumarate and emtricitabine or TDF/FTC.) Ultimately, the doctors are concerned that widespread use of PrEP, based on the available data, will unwittingly lead to more risky behavior, and more HIV infections.