HIV rates rising: Could new forms of PrEP help?

 In 2021, HIV continues to be a disease with huge national and international impact. There are over 1.2 million people in the US estimated to be living with HIV today, and approximately 1.7 million new infections occurred globally last year.

In parts of the US, HIV rates are currently climbing among underserved populations. We’ve seen a recent epidemic among people without stable housing in Boston, and similar outbreaks in areas like West Virginia and Philadelphia. The COVID-19 pandemic has only exacerbated the problem because many people have had less access to testing and medical care for HIV. Now more than ever, medicines known as pre-exposure prophylaxis — or PrEP — could help reverse this worrisome trend by preventing people from getting HIV. And new formulations could make it easy for a much broader range of people at risk for HIV to use PrEP. Already, one is being reviewed by the FDA.

What is PrEP, and is it an option for me?

PrEP is a combination of medicines that significantly lowers the risk of getting HIV. It can be prescribed by primary care doctors or infectious disease specialists. Usually, it is coupled with screening for other sexually transmitted infections and regular HIV testing. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends PrEP for those at high risk for getting HIV, including men who have sex with men, heterosexual men and women with high-risk exposures, transgender women, and people who inject drugs.