HIV prevention pill

aishah · 05-14-2012, 07:30 PM

i'm worried about the fact that so many people wouldn't be able to afford it because of lack of insurance and even if you have insurance, lack of ability to afford the copay :\ the issue belle raised about drug resistance is worrisome too. it does give me hope that maybe there may be more accessible options in the future (in terms of both cost and eventually developing a drug that doesn't have to be taken daily). it would be amazing to have something like this available in communities where hiv infection among women of color is really on the rise, too.

princessbelle · 05-14-2012, 07:53 PM

I certainly know nada about this drug. But, what jumps to the front of my mind is what happened/is happening with Penicillin. Sure it is still a wonderful drug and helps many people but there are so many, many types of bacteria now that it doesn't touch and people build up resistance to it when they take it for the wrong reasons.

HIV is a virus not a bacteria. But, the theory is still relative, i think. If this drug prevents the virus, and we build resistance to the drug, if we do then get the virus, it may not do anything to help cure it. Since there are so few combo drugs that actually do help slow the HIV process down for decades prior to getting Aids, to me that is what is standing out in the forefront of this article.

I don't really know much about it....just something to consider.

Toughy · 05-14-2012, 08:27 PM

The reason Gilead is going to FDA for approval of this new use as prevention is so insurance companies will pay for the drug. It is very rare that an insurance company will pay for what is called 'off-label' use. 'Off-label' means the drug is not approved by the FDA for that use.

Truvada is currently approved for treatment but not prevention. If the FDA follows the advisory committee recommendation and approves it for prevention.............BINGO...health insurance will add it to their drug formularies for prevention and pay for it. This has HUGE profit potential for Gilead. Imagine how many people taking it daily for years....$$$$$$$$$

Now lets get to the brass tacks of the problem..........compliance....you must take it every day without fail...period. full stop. No one I know is ever 100% compliant with prescriptions for anything ever. AND if you are not compliant and end up HIV infected then you will have 50/50 chance of a drug resistant strain. It cuts down the number of antivirals available by 3 drugs. And then if you don't have health insurance and rely on Medicare/Medicaid/AIDS Drug Assistance Programs you are in even bigger trouble especially since ADAPs across the country are being gutted by budget cuts.

I'm not so sure it's an amazing possibility for those hardest hit by new infections. Barrier protection is still the best way to prevent infection...... either male condoms or female condoms, dental dams, etc.

And I haven't even addressed the issue of side effects of this combination of 3 drugs. I'm out of the loop so I don't know what this 3 drug cocktail (in one pill) has for a side effect/adverse events profile.

I do believe it should be approved, however serious education and strategies must be developed....barrier precautions plus truvada certainly looks to be good prevention as long as folks understand the danger of not taking your pill and use condoms.

ps...............there are at least 13 individual anti-viral drugs on the market....I actually think there are more than that now...it's a big tool box.....

05-14-2012, 07:53 PM	#2
princessbelle Infamous Member How Do You Identify?: femme Preferred Pronoun?: femme ones Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Tennessee Posts: 6,100 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 29,380 Thanked 30,496 Times in 5,198 Posts Rep Power: 21474858	I certainly know nada about this drug. But, what jumps to the front of my mind is what happened/is happening with Penicillin. Sure it is still a wonderful drug and helps many people but there are so many, many types of bacteria now that it doesn't touch and people build up resistance to it when they take it for the wrong reasons. HIV is a virus not a bacteria. But, the theory is still relative, i think. If this drug prevents the virus, and we build resistance to the drug, if we do then get the virus, it may not do anything to help cure it. Since there are so few combo drugs that actually do help slow the HIV process down for decades prior to getting Aids, to me that is what is standing out in the forefront of this article. I don't really know much about it....just something to consider. __________________ ~ I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel. ~ Maya Angelou

05-14-2012, 08:27 PM	#3
Toughy Senior Member How Do You Identify?: pervert butch feminist woman Preferred Pronoun?: see above Relationship Status: independent entity Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Oakland Posts: 1,826 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 4,068 Thanked 7,653 Times in 1,522 Posts Rep Power: 21474853	The reason Gilead is going to FDA for approval of this new use as prevention is so insurance companies will pay for the drug. It is very rare that an insurance company will pay for what is called 'off-label' use. 'Off-label' means the drug is not approved by the FDA for that use. Truvada is currently approved for treatment but not prevention. If the FDA follows the advisory committee recommendation and approves it for prevention.............BINGO...health insurance will add it to their drug formularies for prevention and pay for it. This has HUGE profit potential for Gilead. Imagine how many people taking it daily for years....$$$$$$$$$ Now lets get to the brass tacks of the problem..........compliance....you must take it every day without fail...period. full stop. No one I know is ever 100% compliant with prescriptions for anything ever. AND if you are not compliant and end up HIV infected then you will have 50/50 chance of a drug resistant strain. It cuts down the number of antivirals available by 3 drugs. And then if you don't have health insurance and rely on Medicare/Medicaid/AIDS Drug Assistance Programs you are in even bigger trouble especially since ADAPs across the country are being gutted by budget cuts. I'm not so sure it's an amazing possibility for those hardest hit by new infections. Barrier protection is still the best way to prevent infection...... either male condoms or female condoms, dental dams, etc. And I haven't even addressed the issue of side effects of this combination of 3 drugs. I'm out of the loop so I don't know what this 3 drug cocktail (in one pill) has for a side effect/adverse events profile. I do believe it should be approved, however serious education and strategies must be developed....barrier precautions plus truvada certainly looks to be good prevention as long as folks understand the danger of not taking your pill and use condoms. ps...............there are at least 13 individual anti-viral drugs on the market....I actually think there are more than that now...it's a big tool box..... __________________ We are everywhere We are different I do not care if resistance is futile I will not assimilate www.butchfemmesocials.com/

05-14-2012, 07:30 PM	#1
aishah Member How Do You Identify?: queer stone femme shark baby girl Preferred Pronoun?: she, her, little one Relationship Status: dating myself. Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: dallas, tx Posts: 1,495 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 13,823 Thanked 6,442 Times in 1,288 Posts Rep Power: 21474851	i'm worried about the fact that so many people wouldn't be able to afford it because of lack of insurance and even if you have insurance, lack of ability to afford the copay :\ the issue belle raised about drug resistance is worrisome too. it does give me hope that maybe there may be more accessible options in the future (in terms of both cost and eventually developing a drug that doesn't have to be taken daily). it would be amazing to have something like this available in communities where hiv infection among women of color is really on the rise, too.