Population Council Research that makes a difference

Population Council Statement on the Results of
CDC's Bangkok Tenofovir Study

More Proof That Daily HIV Medications Prevent HIV Among Groups at High Risk

NEW YORK (13 June 2013) — Below is a statement by Population Council vice president Naomi Rutenberg on the results of the trial:

"The Population Council applauds the successful results of the Bangkok Tenofovir Study, published online yesterday in the Lancet. We congratulate the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, and the Thailand Ministry of Public Health, as well as the participants for this well-run trial. These findings mark an important milestone in HIV prevention efforts, and we welcome a new prevention option for this hard-to-reach population.

"We now know that PrEP works among many of the highest risk populations—men who have sex with men, injecting-drug users, and in serodiscordant couples. And this study offers further proof that adherence is key; like any medication or treatment, PrEP only works when you take it.

"Other studies tell us there is much more to understand about how to provide effective and acceptable prevention options to women—another group especially vulnerable to HIV. For some, a daily prevention pill may not be feasible. There is still an urgent need for HIV prevention strategies that better meet the needs of women at risk for sexual transmission of HIV, and the Population Council is continuing to develop microbicides to meet these needs.

"The Population Council confronts difficult issues facing people in the developing world, from stopping the spread of HIV to expanding contraceptive choices. We are developing vaginal and rectal microbicides to protect women and men against HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. In addition, the Council is developing combined microbicide/contraceptive products, which also provide protection against unintended pregnancy. Our comprehensive approach to microbicides development comprises all aspects of research, from the laboratory to the field, product introduction, and public education."

For more information about the CDC's findings from the Bangkok Tenofovir Study, read The New York Times coverage (offsite link).

For more information about the Council's HIV prevention work, visit http://www.popcouncil.org/topics/microbicides.asp.

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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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