Tenofovir works as pre-exposure prophylaxis against HIV, two studies confirm

The antiretroviral tenofovir, used alone or in combination, greatly reduces the risk of becoming infected with HIV through vaginal sex, show the results from two new studies in Africa of the concept known as pre-exposure prophylaxis.

The findings, released at a 13 July telephone news conference, confirm and expand on results announced last autumn of a similar trial in men who have sex with men (BMJ 2010;341:c6737, doi:10.1136/bmj.c6737).

The first study, the tenofovir disoproxil fumarate 2 (TDF2) study, enrolled 1219 heterosexual men and women in Botswana who weren’t infected with HIV and randomised them to take either the combination treatment of tenofovir with emtricitabine (marketed as Truvada) or placebo. They also received counselling on prevention and treatment of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections.

There was “a 62.6% reduction in the risk of HIV infection” among those receiving …