Understanding the implementation of Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) to prevent HIV in California

Scientists announced the results of the iPrex trial in November 2010, showing that overall, a daily dose of Truvada, a combination of two oral antiretroviral drugs, tenofovir disoproxil fumarate and emtricitabine, reduced HIV infection in a sample of high-risk men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender (TG) women by 44 percent. Among those study participants who took Truvada 90 percent of the time, the effect increased to a 73 percent reduction in new infections. While these findings are significant, and have implications for the HIV prevention arena, it is unclear how the trial results will be understood and implemented among medical providers serving MSM and TG communities and MSM and TG individuals who may seek out PrEP.