Population Council Research that makes a difference

Breakthrough in HIV Prevention Research

Clinical Trial Shows That the Same Drugs Used for Treating HIV Could Also Help Prevent HIV Infection

NEW YORK, NY (23 November 2010) — Daily use of emtricitabine (FTC) with tenofovir (TDF) in one tablet in conjunction with HIV counseling and prevention services has the potential to prevent HIV infections among men who have sex with men (MSM), according to research conducted by an international team led by researchers from the Gladstone Institute of Virology and Immunology and affiliated with the University of California, San Francisco. The study, iPrEx, found 44 percent fewer HIV infections among MSM who took an FTC/TDF tablet compared to those who took a placebo pill.

This study is significant because it lends credibility to the use of antiretrovirals by HIV-negative people to prevent HIV infection, also known as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). PrEP includes oral formulations such as the FTC/TDF tablet used in this study as well as gels intended for vaginal or rectal use containing antiretroviral drugs. The iPrEx data announced today add to milestone findings presented in July from the CAPRISA 004 trial showing that a 1% tenofovir vaginal microbicide gel reduced the risk of HIV transmission in women.

"The Population Council is greatly encouraged that we now have proofs of concept for oral and topical PrEP approaches to HIV prevention. We congratulate the iPrEx team and all the study participants who contributed to this important result," said Naomi Rutenberg, vice president and director of the Council's HIV and AIDS program.

"Moreover, the men who participated in this trial belong to an important population, men who have sex with men, which is often marginalized, particularly in African countries," said Rutenberg. "Population Council studies have demonstrated that MSM are far more prevalent in Africa than is often acknowledged, and therefore as a group they are more vulnerable to HIV and receive less treatment and care than other groups. The promising results reported today point to a new option for HIV prevention for these men."

The iPrEx study involved 2,499 participants from Brazil, Ecuador, Peru, South Africa, Thailand, and the United States who were randomly assigned to one of two study groups: one receiving an antiretroviral tablet containing combination emtricitabine (FTC 200mg) and tenofovir (TDF 300mg), known by the brand name Truvada®, or another receiving placebo. All participants received safer sex counseling and free condoms and were tested for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections at each monthly visit throughout the time they were in the study.

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About the Population Council
The Population Council confronts critical health and development issues—from stopping the spread of HIV to improving reproductive health and ensuring that young people lead full and productive lives. Through biomedical, social science, and public health research in 50 countries, we work with our partners to deliver solutions that lead to more effective policies, programs, and technologies that improve lives around the world. Established in 1952 and headquartered in New York, the Council is a nongovernmental, nonprofit organization governed by an international board of trustees.

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