This pill could stop 90 percent of HIV cases in the US

[techbeck]

Michael Lucas has been taking Truvada, the HIV prevention pill, for about a year now. And the 42-year-old adult film director and gay porn performer readily admits that the decision wasn't all that hard to make ? especially when compared with the alternative. "It just seemed healthier to run the risk of experiencing side effects than to worry about HIV," he says, adding "I come from a generation where people were dying all the time, so I grew up living in fear."

 

Lucas is part of a small but growing subset of HIV-negative gay and bisexual men who have embraced Truvada, the most widely used incarnation of an HIV preventative drug regimen called PrEP. The little blue pill, which is taken daily and costs $13,000 a year (but is covered by most insurers), helps reduce infection rates by more than 90 percent. But until recently, only a select few were aware of the drug's existence as an HIV preventative. The US government's announcement last week that it was urging physicians to prescribe PrEP to anyone who might be at risk for HIV infection ? not just men who have sex with men who might be HIV positive ? therefore came as a surprise.

 

More...

http://www.theverge.com/2014/5/19/5729694/us-backing-truvada-prevent-spread-hiv

[Mr. Gibs]

helps reduce infection rates by more than 90 percent.

To be fair, it's been proven to reduce infection rates by 50-60%. Mathematical models suggest that it could reduce it by more than 90% but this hasn't been tested or proved in clinical trials yet.

So people should still take appropriate precautions, and not rely completely on this drug. That said, a 50-60% reduction rate is still pretty dam good.

[#Michael]

To be fair, it's been proven to reduce infection rates by 50-60%. Mathematical models suggest that it could reduce it by more than 90% but this hasn't been tested or proved in clinical trials yet.

So people should still take appropriate precautions, and not rely completely on this drug. That said, a 50-60% reduction rate is still pretty dam good.

 

Even 50-60% reduction rate is amazing.  Why isn't this making the news?  

[Hum]

^ I suspect, because of the $13,000 pricetag. ;)

[mudslag]

Just have to watch out for super aids now.

 

[daorbed9]

Covered by insurers?  Why should this be covered by insurance?

[n_K]

Covered by insurers?  Why should this be covered by insurance?

I'm wondering the same thing... A much better and cheaper prevention is a condom which protects against more than just HIV.

[mudslag]

Covered by insurers?  Why should this be covered by insurance?

 

 

I'm wondering the same thing... A much better and cheaper prevention is a condom which protects against more than just HIV.

 

 

 

Why shouldn't it be covered? Viagra is covered. And condoms are not 100% effective. 

[daorbed9]

Because Viagra is actually fixing a medical condition. This is just to enable someone to have pleasure without as much risk.  So it's 13,000 per year and there's only a good chance you wont get sick.  That's a terrible risk and burden on the people who pay insurance.  If they get sick, and 40% will, then its all wasted money.  Then you are paying for a much more expensive medical care until they die.  Its like russian roulette.  Beyond that you are guaranteed to get more people sick with this medicine.