Remember our last blog post regarding PrEP treatment for the prevention of HIV transmission? Well, there have been some great advances in the last few years! Before we get into those updates, let’s quickly review the basics.
What is pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP)?
PrEP is a medicine that you take once a day to help prevent HIV infection. It’s available by prescription and designed for those at risk of contracting HIV from sex or injection drug use.
Who is a candidate for PrEP?
Typically, your provider may recommend PrEP if you:
- Are sexually active with someone who is HIV-positive
- Have multiple sexual partners and don’t use condoms consistently
- Have a partner who is not monogamous
- Participate in unprotected anal sex as a gay or bisexual man
- Inject drugs or share needles
How effective is PrEP?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), PrEP is about 99% effective in preventing HIV from sex. If you’re at risk due to injection drug use, it can reduce your risk by about 74%.
It’s important to note, however, that these highly effective rates drop significantly if you don’t take the medication every day as prescribed. That is a great segway into a new class of PrEP medications called long acting injectables (LAI).
Long-Acting Injectable PrEP
For patients who prefer not to take a daily pill, long-acting injectable PrEP is now available!
Apretude (Cabotegravir)
Approved by the FDA in 2021, Apretude is the first long-acting injectable PrEP option. It has been shown in large studies1 to be highly effective. It is given as an injection at your doctor’s office every 2 months. And what is great – no more daily pills.
This option is ideal for patients who 1) have difficulty remembering daily medication, 2) prefer more discreet prevention or 3) want fewer dosing decisions.
What About Twice-Yearly Injectable Options?
Longer-acting HIV prevention therapies (Yeztugo/lenacapavir) are currently in advanced clinical development, and emerging data are very promising1. As these therapies become FDA-approved and widely available, we will continue to update our patients and offer new options as appropriate.
Schedule a Visit Today
PrEP is one of the most powerful tools available to prevent HIV — and it continues to evolve.
If you think you may benefit from PrEP or would like to discuss your options, schedule a visit at City Care Family Practice today. We are here to support all of your health care needs with professionalism, compassion, and discretion.
Citations
- Landovitz et al., Lancet HIV, 2023
Author: Dr. Megan Braiman
Dr. Megan Braiman is a board-certified family physician at City Care Family Practice. She received her medical degree from Albany Medical College and completed her residency training at Montefiore Medical Center. Outside the clinic, she enjoys exploring parks and new restaurants with her husband and young son, as well as reading fantasy and thriller novels.