Document Type
Article
Publication Date
7-27-2012
Abstract
On July 16, 2012, emtricitabine/tenofovir (Truvada) became the first drug approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) for adults at high risk. While PrEP appears highly effective with consistent adherence, effective implementation poses ethical challenges for the medical and public health community. For PrEP users, it is necessary to maintain adherence, safe sex practices, and routine HIV testing and medical monitoring, to maximize benefits and reduce risks. On a population level, comparative cost-effectiveness should guide priority-setting, while safety measures must address drug resistance concerns without burdening patients' access. Equitable distribution will require addressing the needs of underserved populations, women (for whom efficacy data are mixed) and people living in developing countries with high HIV incidence; meanwhile, it is necessary to consider the fair use of drugs for treatment vs. prevention and the appropriate design of new HIV prevention studies.
Publication Citation
Jonathan S. Jay, Lawrence O. Gostin, Ethical Challenges of Preexposure Prophylaxis for HIV, JAMA Online (July 27, 2012), http://jama.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=1262682
Scholarly Commons Citation
Jay, Jonathan S. and Gostin, Lawrence O., "Ethical Challenges of Preexposure Prophylaxis for HIV" (2012). Georgetown Law Faculty Publications and Other Works. 1003.
https://scholarship.law.georgetown.edu/facpub/1003
Included in
Bioethics and Medical Ethics Commons, Health Law and Policy Commons, Public Health Commons, Public Policy Commons