Should PrEP Be Available As An Over-The-Counter Medication?

Yesterday I reported on a push by California lawmakers to make PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) and PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis) available to the public as over-the-counter medications to be dispensed by a pharmacist.

The legislation, Senate Bill 159, has passed in the state Senate and is working its way through the Assembly.

The bill has strong support from the San Francisco AIDS Foundation, APLA Health, the Los Angeles LGBT Center, and the California Pharmacists Association.

According to the Centers for Disease Control(CDC), studies have shown that PrEP reduces the risk of getting HIV from sex by about 99% when taken daily. So making the medications more accessible definitely sounds like a good idea.

But there are those who have reservations about the bill.

The California Medical Association (CMA) wants to see changes made before the bill becomes law. The CMA points to possible drug interactions as well as complications with liver or kidney functions that might occur if the patient isn’t being monitored on a regular basis by a physician.

There are other concerns as well.

For instance, Gilead Sciences, which manufactures the drug Truvada (tenofovir) used in PrEP, was sued in April by eight patients who took the medication for years.

They say Gilead “deliberately withheld a much safer version of these drugs from the market for more than a decade” in an attempt to maximize profits from Truvada, according to Biospace.com.

The plaintiffs say Gilead was slow in sharing adverse event reports which indicated HIV drugs using a formulation known as tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) caused far more serious complications than previously reported.

Medications that utilized this formulation were marketed up to 2015 as Truvada, Viread, Atripla, Complera and Stribild.

Gilead Sciences had developed a safer, more effective anti-viral HIV treatment formulation, tenofovir alafenamide fumarate (TAF), which was patented in 2015.

While the lawsuit is slowly working its way through the courts, some critics of SB 159 say the general public may not know which medications may or may not work for them. Plus, would the average pharmacist have an extensive background on the different medications used for PrEP?

Additionally, Gilead is on the verge of having a new HIV drug, Descovy, approved for use in PrEP. Descovy has already undergone phase II trials and is awaiting final approval which could come as soon as September or October.

While Truvada continues to be effective, according to Biospace.com, Gilead says Descovy is “safer than Truvada for PrEP and ‘offers more efficient delivery’ of the antiviral components, which results in a higher concentration of the drug in the cells where HIV can occur.”

Gilead has stated an approved version of Descovy would cost about the same as Truvada, about $21,000 a year.

While that FDA approval is expected shortly, an Israel-based company, Teva Pharmaceutical, is expected to make a generic version of Truvada available possibly as soon as 2020.

Since 2004, Truvada has definitely helped save lives as part of a daily HIV treatment and, since 2012, as the only drug approved for use as PrEP.

I personally support making safe, life-saving drugs as available as possible.

But here's a question - if you knew there was a less-toxic but more expensive drug on the market versus an older, generic medication, what would you do?

(source: Biospace.com)

California: PrEP And PEP Could Become Available Without Prescription

California lawmakers are working to make PrEP and PEP available as over-the-counter drugs without a prescription, reports Capital Public Radio.

PrEP, pre-exposure prophylaxis, is the once-a-day treatment using Truvada that has been proven to be more than 90% effective in preventing HIV infection.

PEP, post-exposure prophylaxis, is prescribed to patients who have experienced possible exposure to HIV. Taken within 72 hours of exposure, the 28-day course of HIV medications is meant to stave off infection before the virus can take hold in the patient’s system.

Both PrEP and PEP currently require a prescription from a physician. Often, a patient’s insurance company has to sign off on the prescription before coverage kicks in.

California state Sen. Scott Weiner of San Francisco wants to change that. He is the lead author of Senate Bill 159.

The legislation would authorize pharmacists to provide PrEP and PEP without a prescription, much like birth control pills are currently available in the Golden State.

Under SB 159, Patients would have to be tested for HIV within the seven day period before buying the medication, and pharmacists would have to notify a patient’s primary physician as well as counsel the patient on side effects.

The measure passed in the state Senate in May by a vote of 34-1, and it is now working its way through the state Assembly where Assemblymember Todd Gloria is sponsoring the bill.

Equality California has made the bill a top priority. Additionally, the legislation is supported by the San Francisco AIDS Foundation, APLA Health, the Los Angeles LGBT Center, and the California Pharmacists Association.

But the California Medical Association wants to see changes made before the bill becomes law.

Specifically, the CMA wants the PrEP component removed from the bill, and only supports allowing a portion of PEP to be dispensed by a pharmacist before a doctor would prescribe the remaining treatment.

The CMA points to possible drug interactions as well as complications with kidney or liver functions that could occur if dispensed without regular checkups and screening.

In a letter to lawmakers, Morgan Carvajal, legislative advocate for the CMA’s Center for Government Relations, wrote, “Prescribing a daily, long-term use, medication of strong HIV regimen drugs to healthy, HIV-negative patients demands a high degree of safety and consideration that is only achieved safely by the patient-physician relationship.”

There's no word as yet regarding pricing of the medications under SB 159.

(source: Capital Public Radio)

Metrosource Debunks 7 Myths About PrEP

According to the CDC: ”When taken consistently, PrEP has been shown to reduce the risk of HIV infection in people who are at high risk by up to 92%.”

But some folks might still be confused about PrEP and its usage.

Metrosource recently addressed 7 myths about using PrEP:

• “It’s not covered by insurance.”

PrEP is covered by virtually all insurances. The cost varies, but the medication’s makers offer a payment assistance plan that can make it less expensive or sometimes free.

• “It’s a new drug; we don’t know how it will affect us in the long term.”

Since the drug has been used as part of HIV regimens since 2004, its usage is well documented, and it’s standard to check in with your doctor every three months while on PrEP.

• “I’d just end up having sex with more guys.”

There's no data that backs this up.

• “People are on PrEP just to bareback.”

Even on PrEP, doctors recommend continuing condom use alongside PrEP to protect against other sexually transmitted infections.

• “PrEP has unpleasant side effects.”

Experts acknowledge there are some known side effects like fatigue or headaches, but for most people, they are generally mild and pass after taking the medication for a few weeks.

• “It’s for people who think they have HIV.”

PrEP is only for people who are HIV negative. To get a prescription, you must first take an HIV test.

• “Once you start PrEP, you can never stop.”

PrEP can be taken for periods, then stopped, and even started again. However, when taking PrEP, you must take the medication consistently for maximum protection.

New PrEP Implant Could Protect Against HIV For Up To One Year

Pharmaceutical company MSD has announced early, but promising, news regarding the first round of testing on humans for its PrEP implant, known as Islatravir, which could prevent HIV infection for up to a year.

The news was shared at the 10th International AIDS Society Conference on HIV Science in Mexico City. The biennial conference is considered the world’s most influential meeting on HIV research and its applications.

Currently, PrEP is available as a daily oral medication. But researchers project the new implant will effectively deliver a slow, steady stream of anti-HIV meds for up to one year.

The implant would be placed under the skin of a patient’s arm. For those patients who find difficulty in adhering to a once-a-day dose, the new implant could represent a major benefit.

Additionally, a once-a-year choice would offer a more discreet option for patients who are concerned about the stigma of being on PrEP.

“Islatravir could be a game-changer for HIV prevention,” said Matthew Hodson, director of British HIV awareness group NAM. “PrEP is already extraordinarily effective at preventing HIV.”

The CDC reports that among men who have sex with men, taking PrEP daily or consistently (at least 4 times per week), reduces the risk of acquiring HIV by about 99 percent.

Hodson added, “I’m enthusiastic about Islatravir’s potential to make it easier for people to go on PrEP, and maintain levels of drug in the body necessary to provide protection for a year, without additional dosing.”

IAS President Anton Pozniak concurred, saying an implant offers “a promising solution to those who face challenges adhering to a daily PrEP regimen.”

(source: International AIDS Society)

News Round-Up: June 21, 2019

The Chippendales handle the desert heat in style

Some news items you might have missed:

• It's heating up here in Las Vegas, but you can trust the Chippendales (above) to always keep cool as they dress for success.

• The American Psychoanalytic Association (APsaA) apologized today for previously treating homosexuality as a mental illness.

• Currently, 74 members of the House of Representatives support impeaching Donald Trump.

• Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) has introduced a bill in the U.S. Senate to expand access to PrEP helping ensure that communities disproportionately impacted by HIV - particularly Black/Latino gay & bisexual men and trans women - are guaranteed insurance coverage for life-saving preventive interventions.

Proud to introduce the PrEP Access and Coverage Act today, my new bill to:

✅require all health care plans to cover PrEP, follow-up visits, and tests with no out-of-pocket costs
✅expand access to PrEP for those uninsured
✅prohibit insurance discrimination against PrEP users

— Kamala Harris (@SenKamalaHarris) June 20, 2019

• International pop star Olivia Newton-John is putting that famous black leather jacket and pants from the finale of her blockbuster film, Grease, on the auction block along with more personal memorabilia. Proceeds from the auction will go to the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Wellness & Research Center in Australia.

• Gay porn studio Sean Cody got in hot water for hiring a 'model' named Zane who sports a Confederate flag tattoo. Initially, the studio just blurred the tat thinking that would suffice. But an uproar caused the company to take down all videos using the performer.

• Grammy Award winning artist Daya drops her latest single, "Left Me Yet," from her upcoming album.

In the music video, the openly bisexual singer/songwriter dances her way through self-criticism and doubt as the dance/pop bop grooves along to electronic beats.

“I push you away, why do I do that? / Impatient, but you're patient with me / I'm surprised you haven't left me yet.”

Raise your hand if you can relate ;)

Podcast: Cuba Marches, Gilead Donates, Indya Moore Covers ELLE, Matt Bomer Stars In 'Papi Chulo'

In this week's podcast:

• Pharma giant Gilead will donate up PrEP medications for up to 200,000 American individuals in the effort to stop HIV

• Cuban gays stage an impromptu Pride march after the government cancels the annual parade

• A school in Indiana planned to deadname a transgender student at graduation

• Indya Moore becomes the first transgender woman to cover Elle Magazine

• And Matt Bomer plays a gay weatherman in the upcoming movie, 'Papi Chulo'

All that and more in this episode of The Randy Report

Hit the play button below.

If you enjoy catching up on LGBTQ news in a quick podcast, I’d appreciate it if you would share The Randy Report with your friends.

I like to think of this podcast as the 60 Minutes of gay news —— only shorter ;)

Gilead Will Donate PrEP For 200K People

The Department of Health and Human Services has announced that pharmaceutical company Gilead Sciences, Inc. has agreed to donate pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) medication for up to 200,000 individuals each year for up to 11 years.

PrEP is used to reduce the risk of HIV infection in individuals who are at higher risk for HIV. It has been shown to reduce the risk of new infection by up to 97 percent when taken consistently.

The agreement between the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and Gilead will last until at least December 31, 2025 and possibly through December 31, 2030, and will provide medication to treat individuals who are at risk for HIV and who are uninsured.

This donation will deliver Gilead’s PrEP medication Truvada, which currently carries a list price of more than $20,000 per patient per year, to up to 200,000 people per year, including in the states and counties identified as priority areas in the Trump Administration plan - PDF to end the HIV epidemic in America.

Gilead will donate Truvada until its second-generation HIV preventative medication, Descovy, becomes available. At that time, Gilead will donate Descovy. The agreement would end after 11 years, or when a generic version of Descovy becomes commercially available, whichever comes first. The government has agreed to cover costs associated with distributing the drugs.

I’m pleased to announce that as a result of discussions between the Trump Administration and Gilead Sciences, Inc., Gilead has agreed to make a historic donation of #HIV prevention medication for up to 200,000 individuals each year for up to 11 years.

— Secretary Alex Azar (@SecAzar) May 9, 2019

The agreement will provide pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to treat individuals who are at risk for HIV and who are uninsured, including in the states and counties identified as priority areas in @POTUS’s plan to #EndHIVEpidemic in America.

— Secretary Alex Azar (@SecAzar) May 9, 2019

But some folks point out this isn't a simple case of the Gilead folks being generous.

The U.S. government spent years, as well as tens of millions of dollars, developing the treatment. The federal government patented the treatment in 2015, but doesn't make a penny from it while Gilead, which has a U.S. monopoly on the drug, has cleaned up.

A month's supply of Truvada can cost $2,000, but costs a small fraction of that to produce.

This isn’t a donation. We, the American public, own the patent for this therapy. Gilead basically stole it and is now kindly giving some back. https://t.co/F3zUUEJEUm https://t.co/2lQMcGYKR5

— Adam W Gaffney (@awgaffney) May 9, 2019

(via press release)

Australia: Man Receives HIV Diagnosis While Using PrEP 'On Demand'

Steven Spencer, who lives in Sydney, told the Sydney Morning Herald he received the diagnosis in December.

“I was in complete, as were my doctors,” said the 27-year-old.

With an estimated half a million people currently taking PrEP (aka Truvada) to prevent HIV infection, Spencer is believed to be the 7th person in the world to be diagnosed as HIV+ while taking the medication.

Taking PrEP “on demand” is a dosing strategy aimed at taking the medication only at specific times before and after sex.

Dr. Darren Russell, of the Australasian Society for HIV, Viral Hepatitis and Sexual Health Medicine - which helped develop Australia’s clinical guidelines for PrEP - told the Morning Herald, “Taking PrEP only around the time of sexual events allows for fewer tablets to be taken overall, resulting in less exposure to medication, potentially fewer side-effects, and lower costs.”

Medical experts in Australia stressed to the media that people shouldn’t doubt the drug’s effectiveness in light of Mr. Spencer’s diagnosis.

Andrew Grulich, program head of HIV Epidemiology and Prevention at the University of NSW's Kirby Institute, underscored the point that PrEP had been a "game-changer for HIV prevention in Australia” since it was made available on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (which provides subsidized prescription drugs) in April 2018.

"Individuals should remain confident of PrEP’s effectiveness," he added.

In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control say daily PrEP reduces the getting HIV by more than 90%.

According to Grulich, most of the cases where patients acquired HIV while using PrEP involved a virus that is resistant to the anti-viral medication.

Steven Spencer of Sydney, Australia

Immediately after his diagnosis, Spencer was put on HIV medications, and within six weeks was declared to have an ‘undetectable viral load’ meaning he couldn’t transmit the virus to anyone.

And Spencer still believes in the PrEP protocol.

"What happened to me doesn’t change the fact that PrEP is still the most powerful HIV preventative we have ever had," said Spencer.

"It is protecting hundreds of thousands of people from HIV in an empowering way, alongside effective treatment for people living with HIV," he added.

PrEP Use Jumps 500% Among Gay/Bi Men At Risk Of HIV

A new report from the Centers for Disease Control indicates an almost 500% increase in the use of PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) among gay and bisexual men in 2017.

The data, presented at the 2019 Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections in Seattle on Thursday, found 35% of gay/bisexual men at risk for HIV had begun using PrEP, up from only 6% in 2014.

According to NBC News, the study was based on 8,000+ interviews across 20 cities in the U.S.

The numbers also revealed the varying adoption rates among different ethnic groups.

Among gay/bisexual men at high risk of HIV, 40% of white men were found to use PrEP, while only 30% of Hispanic men and just 26% of African-American men admitted to taking the drug.

PrEP, also known by its drug name Truvada, has been found to be more than 90% effective in blocking transmission of the HIV virus during sex.

The new report shows high levels of awareness of PrEP among gay/bi men. Ninety-five percent of white men indicated they knew about the drug, as well as 87% of Latinos and 86% of African-Americans.

But in light of the government’s newly-announced “Ending the HIV Epidemic: A Plan for America,” which has a goal of reducing HIV infections by 90% by the year 2030, the CDC feels PrEP use is still “underutilized.”

One of the obstacles for people accessing PrEP is the high cost of the drug - around $2,000 a month for those without health insurance. Additionally, different insurance companies have wide-ranging policies regarding approving the use of PrEP.

Plus, the new report shows only 10% adoption rates across the country when you factor in heterosexuals and injection drug-use populations at risk of HIV.

With those costs in mind, Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ) introduced the PrEP Assistance Program Act Friday morning.

The new legislation aims to prevent HIV and AIDS by increasing access to pre-exposure prophylaxis medication for individuals at risk of contracting HIV.

The PrEP Assistance Program Act would create a grant program through the federal Department of Health and Human Services to help cover the costs of PrEP medication, laboratory fees, outreach to inform the public about PrEP, and more.

News Round-Up: February 20, 2019

(image via Instagram)

Some news items you might have missed:

• I might be a little obsessed with this handsome face. InstaHunk Steve_In_LA is pretty easy on the eyes as well ;)

• New York City Council Speaker Corey Johnson has called for feds to 'break the patent' on Truvada, which is commonly prescribed as PrEP. Since the federal government helped fund the research for the drug, it has the right to break the patent and allow other companies to produce a generic version. PrEP has been shown to be 99% effective in protecting against HIV infection when used on a daily basis.

• The Republican-controlled Indiana Senate has voted to scrap all protected characteristics, including gender identity, race and sexual orientation, from a proposed hate crime bill. Indiana is one of only five states with no hate crime law in place.

• A lesbian couple in Indiana were refused service by their tax preparer, Nancy Fivecoate, because they were married. Fivecoate says she has gay clients, but she can't work for gay married clients. What do taxes have to do with religious beliefs?

• 18-time Grand Slam winner Martina Navratilova has been removed from the advisory board of pro-LGBTQ sports organization Athlete Ally for her recent anti-transgender remarks. The tennis champ says its 'cheating' to let trans women compete in women's sports.

• As he was recovering from a life-shaking breakup, out singer/songwriter Kisos penned (in real time) his upcoming EP, sweet nothings, featuring one track for each of the 5 stages of grief.

The lead single, "Happily Ever After," is a bouncy electro-pop bop with the handsome artist deep in denial, using delusion as poisoned motivation to better himself and survive the pain of seeing his ex with someone new.

Hit the play button below and enjoy! "Happily Ever After" is available now - click here.

Podcast: Chechnya Purges Gays Again; Toxic Masculinity; Adam Lambert in 'Bohemian Rhapsody'

In this week’s podcast:

• Chechnya is hunting down LGBTQ folks again

• The American Psychological Association confirms that toxic masculinity is a real thing and its rooted in homophobia

• Wedding fashion giant David’s Bridal features a same-sex couple in their new commercial

• Mutual of Omaha agrees to stop denying coverage to gay men who use PrEP

• Adam Lambert revealed he has a cameo in Bohemian Rhapsody

• YouTuber Logan Paul confirms he's an idiot

All that and more in this episode of The Randy Report

San Francisco Man Contracts HIV Despite Regular Adherence To PrEP

A 21-year-old Latinx man in San Francisco, California, has contracted HIV despite adhering to a daily PrEP regime.

According to TheBodyPro.com, he is the first known HIV seroconversion with verified adherence to PrEP in the United States,

Medical experts were informed of the news at the annual IDWeek conference, run by the Infectious Diseases Society of America, this past weekend in San Francisco.

Reports show the man began PrEP through a city health clinic in San Francisco in late 2016. At the time, he was confirmed to be HIV negative.

Repeat testing during return visits at the three, six and ten month marks showed he had been consistent in taking the medication and he remained HIV negative. By analyzing samples of his hair, doctors were able to confirm he had adhered to the PrEP regime on a regular basis for the previous six months.

In early 2018, during a followup visit, he tested negative through a rapid test, but a more comprehensive RNA test came back positive. Further testing showed he was indeed HIV positive.

He was immediately placed on HIV medications and his viral load was suppressed where it has remained since treatment began.

Health care experts were able to identify that the man had acquired a particularly resistant strain of HIV usually identified with those who have begun treatment with HIV medications but stopped.

Researchers were able to determine that the man’s primary male partner had been diagnosed with HIV, used medications for a period of time but had stopped. His viral load was found to be very high and matched the 21-year-old’s strain. He has since returned to treatment.

This marks the sixth reported case of HIV infection while using PrEP.

Four cases, two in 2016 in New York and Toronto, and two in 2017 in North Carolina and Australia, are believed to be due to exposure to high viral loads of resistant strains of HIV.

Medical experts believe the fifth previous case, in Amsterdam, was the result of a gay man having “unusually high number” of sexual partners - an average of 56 partners a month - which may have repeatedly exposed him to HIV, according to aidsmap.com.

Even in light of this new report, health care professionals insist PrEP (currently being taken on a regular basis by over 350,000 people around the world) is extremely effective in combating HIV infection.

"We know PrEP is greater than 99% effective," Robert Grant, M.D. of the University of California San Francisco told TheBodyPro.com.

"There are some cases where HIV will break through. We only have a handful of cases now, and next year, we'll probably have a handful more. Fortunately, these cases are caught early, treated, and suppressed quickly. The person goes from taking one pill a day to one pill a day. The biggest difference is stigma."

(h/t: TheBodyPro)

News Round-Up: September 18, 2018

Some news items you might have missed:

• Just to prove folks can be oh-so-sexy fully clothed, check out all of what med student Marco has going on underneath. Oh, yeah, and there's that easy-on-the-eyes face. #woof

• The security guards who ejected fans waving rainbow flags at a concert by pop phenom Dua Lipa concert last week have been arrested for their actions.

• Out Olympic figure skater Adam Rippon is donating a pair of skates and the competition outfit he wore when he helped Team USA win a bronze medal at the 2018 games to the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History.

• Britain’s High Court has overturned pharmaceutical company Gilead Science’s patent extension on Truvada. This ruling could mean affordable, generic versions of the drug could be available in the UK by April 2019.

• Roseanne Barr says the upcoming Roseanne spinoff, The Connors, will kill off her character by having her die of opioid overdose as a 'screw you' to Trump supporters. However, in the recent season of the rebooted Roseanne, writers had laid the groundwork for her character to struggle with prescription pain killer addiction.

• Digital series After Forever won "Best Short Film Ensemble" at the L.A. Indie Film Festival this weekend.

• A Sesame Street writer admits he always considered and wrote the longtime characters Bert & Ernie as a "loving couple."

The folks at Sesame Street did respond to the recent revelation by tweeting a statement about the "best friends" which read, in part, "Even though they are identified as male characters and possess many human traits and characteristics (as most Sesame Street Muppets do), they remain puppets, and do not have a sexual orientation."

Please see our statement below regarding Bert and Ernie. pic.twitter.com/6r2j0XrKYu

— Sesame Workshop (@SesameWorkshop) September 18, 2018

News Round-Up: July 3, 2018

(image via Instagram)

Some news stories you might have missed:

• Chippendales' Okewa (above) celebrates his 30th trip around the sun today. I'd say 'woof' but we can settle for a 'meow' given the pic :)

• A 19-year-old man has been charged with a hate crime after he allegedly beat up and trapped a 50-year-old gay man in a basement apartment.

• The vice mayor of a small California town is facing recall after penning an op-ed sarcastically calling for a 'Straight Pride' month.

• In an interview with Andrew Denton on the Australian talk show Interview, actor Guy Pearce was asked his thoughts on working with Kevin Spacey. The actor replied: “Yeah … yeah. Tough one to talk about at the moment. Amazing actor; incredible actor. Mmm. Slightly difficult time with Kevin. He’s a handsy guy.”

• After appearing in the 2003 film School of Rock with Jack Black, then-child actor Brian Falduto was severely bullied for playing a character perceived to be gay.

• The rising cost of PrEP is keeping it out of reach for many.

• Mexico's newly-elected president, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, name checked LGBTs in his victory speech.

Sexy PSA: "Don't Hate The Player Or The Game"

Check out this sexy new PSA from medsEXPERT Pharmacy based in Toronto, Canada.

Featuring a handsome young urbanite named “Bradley,” the short vid follows his adventures before and after picking up his prescription for PrEP.

Taken on a regular basis, PrEP (Pre-exposure prophylaxis), also marketed as under medication name Truvada, can reduce the risk of HIV infection by over 90%.

It certainly seems to set Bradley free.

Produced by Bulldog Productions and featuring Sofi Tukker’s “Awoo,” busy-boy Bradley’s social calendar gets turbo-charged once he's in the PrEP swing of things.

“There is still a lot of stigma out there around the sex gay men have, it’s not always easy to find friendly or knowledgeable doctors and healthcare providers for LGBTQ+ folks,” Micheal Fanous, the owner and pharmacist at medsEXPERT told INMagazine. “Through this campaign, medsEXPERT wants to acknowledge the sex that men have and for all of us to be proud of who we are.”

The video ends with this message: “Don’t hate the player or the game itself. Take pride in your health!"

Oh - "And never apologize for who you are.” #duh

For more info about PrEP, click over to the Centers for Disease Control site.

Watch the sexy video below.

FDA Approves PrEP For Use By Teens At Risk Of HIV

In 2012, HIV medication Truvada was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use by adults as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) against HIV.

The results have been excellent to say the least as studies show the use of PrEP reduces the chances of HIV exposure by over 90%.

Now, the FDA has expanded the approval of Truvada as PrEP to include adolescents. The new approval will now include teens at risk for HIV who weigh at least 77 pounds.

The decision was based on the ATN113 study, which enrolled 78 high-risk adolescents ages 15 to 17.

Over the course of 48 weeks, the participants checked in on a monthly basis for the first three months, and then moved to clinic visits every three months.

Adherence to taking the drug on a daily basis was fairly high during the first three months. But once the study moved to checking in only every three months, researchers found the teens were more likely to skip a dose.

That drop off in adherence led to the conclusion that teens may need monthly monitoring in order to achieve the best results on PrEP.

(photo by Jeremy McKnight)

The side effects reported among the adolescents were similar to those observed in adults on Truvada, the most common being weight loss, headaches and abdominal pains.

In a press release from Gilead Sciences, which manufactures Truvada, Sybil Hosek, PhD, clinical psychologist at the Cook County Health and Hospital System’s Stroger Hospital in Chicago and lead investigator of the study wrote, “Study ATN113 has demonstrated that Truvada for PrEP is a well-tolerated prevention option for adolescents who are vulnerable to HIV.”

“In addition to traditional risk-reduction strategies, health care providers and community advocates are now equipped with another tool to help address the incidence of HIV in younger at-risk populations,” she added.

(h/t Poz)

Report: Another Man Diagnosed With HIV While Taking PrEP

Health officials in Washington State report a local man has been diagnosed with HIV while taking PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis).

The Seattle & King County’s Public Health Department reports the unnamed man was infected with a rare strain of HIV resistant to the medications in Truvada, the drug’s commercial name.

No details are available on whether he took the medication regularly.

If taken correctly, PrEP has been shown to reduce the risk of HIV by up to 99%.

From OutBreakNewsToday:

Truvada as HIV PrEP is very effective if taken consistently. It reduces the risk of acquiring HIV through sex by over 90%, and perhaps by over 95%. It is also more than 70% effective in preventing HIV infections transmitted through sharing injection equipment. So while it is very effective, like many drugs, it is not 100% effective.

There have been very few reports of HIV infections while taking PrEP.

An Australian man participating in a PrEP clinical trial became infected in 2017 with a drug-resistant strain of HIV.

Also last year, a Dutch man was diagnosed with HIV but doctors there speculate that his “remarkably high” number of sex partners might have been a factor in his infection.

The Centers for Disease Control recommended in 2015 that sexually active gay and bisexual men, or about one in four, be on PrEP.

New York City: HIV Diagnoses Drop To Historic Low

The New York City Department of Health has released a new study that shows new HIV diagnoses have dropped to the lowest rate in the city's history.

The report shows that 2,279 people were diagnosed with the virus in 2016, down 8.6% from 2015.

The department first began tracking HIV statistics in 2001 which saw 5,906 new infections.

Researchers credit the decline in great part to the spread of preventative drug PrEP. The drug is available for low or no cost at the city's eight health clinics.

At the beginning of 2016 only 5% of men having sex with men were using the drug. But by the end of the year, that figure jumped to 30%.

“The technology has landed, and implementation is moving quickly,” Dr. Demetre Daskalakis, the Health Department’s Deputy Commissioner for Disease Control, told Jezebel. “Finally we’re seeing that the curve of decline is statistically significant. I think this is a harbinger of really good things to come.”

It's not all good news though. The report also showed a slight increase in new diagnoses for women, particularly black and Latina women.

Daskalakis told Jezebel, “We’re going to really energize our next campaign to be very, very women focused. We need to better with women, and so we will.”

News Round-Up: March 9, 2018

(via Instagram)

Some news stories you might have missed:

• This is what happens (above) when you actually work out. #ThenTheresMe

• Outsports will host its third annual Pride celebration in New York City, June 21-24, 2018. The event will bring together LGBTQ athletes, coaches, sports executives, members of the media and fans for a weekend of "the celebration of courage."

• More and more gay men are using PrEP to prevent HIV infection but wide ethnic and racial disparities persist in its use.

• Republican senators have reintroduced the First Amendment Defense Act which would give the federal government’s blessing to discriminate against LGBT people and others in the name of religious beliefs.

• Fox News invited a comedian cowboy on air to proclaim "The worst thing you can be today in America is a white, heterosexual, Christian Male." #OhReally

• Whitney, Kevin Macdonald’s documentary about the life and career of Whitney Houston, will be released July 6 in the United States.

• UK singer/songwriter Calum Scott's debut album Only Human is out today and available to download/stream at all digital providers. You can check out my previous posts about the awesomely talented Mr. Scott here.

New York State Will Investigate Claims That Insurance Companies Denied Healthy Gay Men Coverage

According to reports, some insurance companies appear to be denying insurance policies to gay men who admit to taking medication that protects them from HIV infection.

Wait - what? These are healthy guys who are taking preventative steps to avoid HIV infection and insurance companies are holding it against them?

Not only is that not cool, it's also probably illegal.

From The New York Times:

Such denials would amount to illegal discrimination based on sexual orientation, and the companies doing so could be penalized, said Maria T. Vullo, the state’s superintendent of financial services.

The investigation was triggered by an article published Tuesday by The New York Times, she said.

The Times reported that various insurers around the country had denied policies to gay men after learning they took Truvada, a cocktail of two anti-AIDS drugs, to avoid catching H.I.V. through sex. To get insurance, some men even stopped taking the protective drugs.

The practice — known as “pre-exposure prophylaxis,” or PrEP — is recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Studies have shown that people who take the drug every day have nearly a zero chance of becoming infected, even if they are in a long relationship with an H.I.V.-infected person or have sex with many strangers without condoms.

The investigation was prompted by another story in the NY Times about a doctor who couldn't get disability insurance because he admitted to taking PrEP.