Is This the HIV Prevention Pill We’ve Been Waiting For?

Posted by Derek Lactaoen on May 8, 2012 in Health | 14 comments

In a cautious yet necessary step forward, The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said the “Truvada” pill is safe for HIV prevention.

We told you last year about clinical trials of an HIV vaccine in Canada, though this would be the first pill of its kind.

Now, before you go throwing out your stash of condoms, there are still the risks — and the pricetag — of the medication.

A year’s supply of this pill, manufactured by California-based Gilead, rings up at about $11,000. Depending on where you shop and clubs you dance at, a year’s supply of condoms could be free. Just sayin’.

Not only that, but there is a high risk for “renal toxicity” associated with taking Truvada. These factors along with others like education and “prescribed uses” will come up at the May 10 advisory committee meeting later this week.The scientifically inclined can read the initial FDA report here.

For those Unicorns getting the Booty, you’re considered “at risk” for HIV if you’re one of the “275,000 gay men who had more than two partners in the past year and didn’t wear condoms during sex.”

Remember, no love without the glove. For now.

What do you think about the chance of preventative medication?

(Via Bloomberg, Photo via vi.sualize.us)

http://profile.yahoo.com/EE47ROMXN4T2IPH7HEVH3XZXIE Shawn

Hey its a progress. Birth control pills used to be pretty expensive, but now they are common occurrence for teen and adult women. While it is still not cheap, but its covered by their insurance or you can easily buy it. Give it enough time and it will turn out to be a lifesaver.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Brock-R-Gemberling/641535935 Brock R. Gemberling

As an hiv positive man I think there needs to be a cure. However having more than one friend involved in the high end of the Pharma business…as she put it “It will never happen. Companies like the one I work for and bosses like mine and theirs don’t care about a cure. What they care about is the bottom line and how much more profit can be made from maintaining versus curing sickness and disease.”

Anonymous

Only liked your comment… because it is the truth, as sad as that is.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=840318220 Sandra Rush

For many years I’ve been saying the same about cancer, diabetes and all the diseases out there that the pharmaceuticals are “Still looking for a cure”. They could care less about us as long as they keep getting their green god.
http://twitter.com/kendallthegirl Kendall Billman

I completely agree. Large companies make more money treating the disease than they would ever make curing it. In fact, Johnson & Johnson once again refused to license it’s patents on 3 HIV medications last December, which would have made the drugs more accessible and affordable for people who live in developing countries. But according to them, there is no need to make these drugs widely available. Hmmm I wonder where there interests lie?

http://www.facebook.com/chase.tipping Chase Tipping

Even though the pharmaceutical companies DO have a cure they will NEVER let it be known. It will cost them money and their owners and CEO’s wont make BILLIONS of dollars of cash either. it’s the same thing with cancer, diabetes, depression, ADHD or any type of “illness” that requires “THEIR” drug to regulate…..WTH is wrong with drug companies? oh thats right MONEY!!!!!!!!!!!
http://profile.yahoo.com/4FVPQAKPGTJZANNXJFHPMGCA24 Michael

I have been in a committed relationship for over 6 years so this is not an issue for me but if it was I would not consider taking a daily pill to prevent HIV. Granted HIV treatment is ridiculously expensive but it is treatable this day and age. It is not the death sentence it once was. I am not trying to make light of those of you fighting this horrible illness but I am trying to make a point here. There are STD’s as bad if not worse as far as being treatable. This miracle pill is not going to protect you from those and if you practice oral sex without condoms you aren’t safe from a lot of STD’s either. Education people, we need more of it!!!!!!
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001771777059 Summer Sky Mason

i know someone who has hiv and was on this med along with 2 others to help slow the diease..i saw how sick they made him every day..truvada might be used as a preventive hiv drug but think about what it will do to ur body..my friend had days were he didnt want to get got of bed cuz he was so sick from the side effects….he had asked me several times if he could end it all cuz of the way he felt..so ask urself before u take this pill this worth it in the long run to feel like sh*t every day or would it be easier if u just used a condom?? and on a side note what about all those that have been exposed to the hiv virus but havent tested positive yet..could they take truvada knowing they could still test postive in the future?
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=688236750 Craig Knox

I agree with the comment Brock Gemberling made about the pharmaceutical industry, but these are the things that help tip the scales.

If one company puts out a preventative drug, it ups the ante for their competitors to come out with their own product, which generally needs to take it up a level. This cat and mouse game is what has brought treatments to many things to market over the years (that were probably in existence for decades).

$11,000/year is a huge sum of cash though, and who knows what insurance companies will cover.

My ex was hiv +, and though we were safe… I would have considered this as an extra layer of protection. Condoms aren’t 100%. A microscopic hole in a condom won’t let sperm out, but it does let loose the HIV virus. There is no such thing as safe sex, just safer. For neg people with + partners, this could be a huge deal. For everyone else, just don’t be stupid.
http://www.facebook.com/peaceful.jess Jessica Dralle Brassfield

I know why it won’t be, but I think it should be free to everyone.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=508951055 Brody Rechlo

OOOoorrr, We not turn this into some excuse to be going around, sticking our dicks into any dirty old hole without protection. And we wonder why so many straight people think we’re all depraved, sex junkies.
Anonymous

As a woman who does occasionally have sexual relationships with men, I got really into the concept of combining different approaches — eg, one part hormonal, one part barrier method, stir vigorously with a well established and trusted partner. I was into this idea before I was sexually active. I was a rather sexually aware virgin.

So here’s the idea I’d propose for my totally gay brethren: if this becomes available and not horrifically overpriced at some point, combine it with a condom whenever the sex is casual. Once you’re getting serious with someone, get tested together, communicate boundaries, and lose the barrier if it suits you, but stay on the pills, or the shot, or what have you.

Honestly, I’d recommend this to everyone. I can imagine there are three unstable people out there who want to catch HIV. The rest of us want to get as many degrees away from it as possible, so why not use any cross-compatible methods of prevention one can?

We could probably wipe out AIDS in the first world simply by riding it out with good preventative measures; pun totally intended. Then, once we’ve worked that out, we can turn our attention even more to the third world, where AIDS is a catastrophe.

Anonymous

Condoms. Barriers. Prevention meds, pre and post. Cover all bases. Test frequently for all STDs. Know your status. With HIV and other STDs lurking, all sexual contact must be undertaken with as many protective measures as are available. and while HIV/AIDS treatment has become more effective and more available, adhering to that treatment is no easy matter. But comply, comply, comply.

Stay informed about issues, research, clinical trials, positions taken by candidates for public office.

Become active in advocacy groups; there are many. Find one whose goals, methods, and approach align with your perspective–political or research or public policy, whichever.

We can’t rest easy. We can’t rest at all. Not yet.

FunnyHoney89

I agree with Brock. If Pharma had their way, everyone would be sick and dependent on medication to live their daily lives. I truly believe that even if a cure was found (or even has been found) that Pharma as well as other massive pharmaceutical conglomerates would do everything in their power (which due to their unlimited supply of revenue is quite a lot a lot of power) to stop the cure from being released. Something similar occurred in the past 40 years with Dr. Berzenki and his findings with the cure for cancer.

However, at least we know if you are wealthy, you can afford the preventive medication for HIV with all the lovely side effects that come along with it. Why not make healthy people take a medication that might, and I use the word might liberally, prevent the transmission of HIV yet would still cause the person taking this medication to become sick in other ways causing more medication and treatment. It’s the perfect crime. Perfectly legal and with the vail of trying to do good. Are there people out there would are honestly trying to do good things by introducing this medication? Absolutely. However, I just don’t see this pill as a solution by any means- not unless it can be proven beyond any reasonable doubt that it 100% prevented the spread of HIV and as we all know, as well as Pharma and the FDA- it does not. Will a medical solution to HIV/AIDS be found? Yes. Will Pharma/World Governments let it be released? No. There is too much money involved and as we all know- money and blood are the perfect match made in hell.

Perhaps the only solution we need is ourselves.

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