via Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report In the United States, an estimated 48,100 new human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections occurred in 2009 (1). Of these, 27% were in heterosexual men and women who did not inject drugs, and 64% were in men who have sex with men (MSM), including 3% in MSM who inject drugs. In January Read More >>

Check out this interesting mini-bio of Pedro Goicochea, the latest in IRMA’s “Meet a Friendly Rectal Microbicide Advocate” series on the IRMA website here.  Pedro is one of six new bios just posted today, including individuals from Kenya,Thailand and the US.  Each will be featured on the blog, and you can read all of them here right Read More >>

Check out this interesting min-bio of Ariel Watriss, the latest in IRMA’s “Meet a Friendly Rectal Microbicide Advocate” series on the IRMA website here.  Ariel is one of six new bios just posted a few days ago, including individuals from Kenya, Thailand, the UK, India and Argentina.  Each will be featured on the blog, and you can Read More >>

via Somatosphere, by Marsha Rosengarten One of the more controversial interventions proposed for HIV prevention in those who test HIV antibody negative and perceived to be at risk is pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) – a daily pill comprising one or two antiretroviral drugs manufactured by Gilead Inc. Besides the mixed results from multi-site randomised controlled trials (RCTs) seeking Read More >>

via AllAfrica.com, by Michael Carter Older, better-educated gay men who use sexual networking sites and have sex outside the context of committed relationships may be appropriate targets for intermittent pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), US research published in the online edition of the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes suggests. The investigators found that individuals with this profile were Read More >>

via AidsMap.com, by Gus Cairns Further testing of drug levels in the blood and immune cells of gay men participating in the iPrEx trial of tenofovir/FTC (Truvada) pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) has found that HIV infection in men assigned to Truvada was associated with a lapse in taking the drug after initially adhering reasonably well, rather than never Read More >>

via HIVandHepatitis.com, by Liz Highleyman The 2 drugs in the Truvada pill — tenofovir and emtricitabine — reach different concentrations in human cervical, vaginal, and rectal mucosa tissues and fluids, according to new research published in the December 7, 2011, issue of Science Translational Medicine. Lower drug levels in the female genital tract suggest that women may Read More >>

Via AIDSMap, by Michael Carter. Approximately 50% of gay men said they were likely to use pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), but few reported that it would lead to a change in their risk behaviour, according to data presented to the International AIDS Society conference in Rome. Nevertheless, the investigators were concerned that even minor increases in rates of Read More >>

An invitation from the Forum for Collaborative HIV Research: Safety Issues in Pre-exposure Prophylaxis for HIV negative individuals, proposals for management of safety concerns, and pending plans for scale-up Forum for Collaborative HIV Research 1608 Rhode Island Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20036 August 19, 2011 8:30am – 4:00pm The Forum for Collaborative HIV Research has been tasked Read More >>

Via Now Chelsea, by Sam Spokony. Few methods of HIV prevention have been as promising, or as controversial, as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). After a history of underground practice and off-label prescriptions, the approach has recently begun to receive serious attention from researchers, policy makers and health care advocates. An outgrowth of post-exposure prophylaxis (or PEP, a short-term Read More >>