Since the AIDS epidemic began in the early 80s, doctors the world over have been trying to find ways to cure and prevent the disease. In 2012, three decades after the official start of the epidemic, the FDA approved the first drug ever to help prevent HIV for people at a high risk of transmission. It’s called Truvada, also known as PrEP, and is said to be over 90% effective.
Two years after the drug’s release on the market, its uptake has been slow and it’s been the subject of some debate within the HIV prevention and gay communities. The Director of Clinical Pharmacy at the AIDS Resource Center of Wisconsin weighs in.