PrEP looks safe
Wednesday, August 4, 2010 at 2:21PM A study involving US gay men suggests that pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) using tenofovir (Viread) is safe.
The Study involved 373 men; 86% completed the two-year study,
Divided into four groups, the first two groups were randomised to receive either tenofovir or a placebo; treatment lasted for two years. Men in the other groups were monitored for six months and then started treatment with either tenofovir or a placebo. These delayed-treatment arms were to see if taking PrEP increased sexual risk behaviour.
There was no real difference in side-effects reported by patients taking tenofovir or the placebo, other than greater reporting back pain from those on tenofovir.
Encouragingly, there was no evidence that tenofovir affected kidney function, or caused bone loss.
Sexual risk behaviour did not increase during the trial.
Seven men became HIV-positive during the study: none of them were taking tenofovir.
But the researchers emphasised that their research didn't have the statistical power to show whether PrEP was effective.
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