UPDATE: In AHF’s recent ‘PrEP Facts’ ad, it was not noted that both the CAPRISA Gel and VOICE Gel PrEP studies in women were conducted using only one drug (Tenofovir), not a two-drug combo (Emtricitabine/Tenofovir) and involved applying a gel internally. This difference may have contributed to varying efficacy rates.
Citing poor drug adherence by individuals enrolled in six major clinical research trials on the use of Gilead’s AIDS treatment, Truvada, for use as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) as a possible method of HIV prevention, advocates from AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) launched a new national ‘PrEP Facts’ ad campaign cautioning individuals, community organizations and government bodies against the widespread scale up of PrEP for HIV prevention.
AHF’s ‘PrEP Facts’ ad campaign educating the public about adherence issues and PrEP initially started running last week in a few newspapers, magazines and online outlets in California and will continue and expand to six outlets in California and five news outlets in South Florida over the next few weeks. AHF’s campaign also comes on the heels of recent—and what AHF believes are misguided—recommendations by both the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and World Health Organization (WHO) for the widespread scale up and implementation of the problematic HIV prevention strategy.
“… studies show the scientific data do not support the large-scale use of Truvada as a community-wide public health intervention to prevent transmission of HIV.”– Michael Weinstein, President of AIDS Healthcare Foundation