'HIV Pill' can Curb Infection if Preventive Sex, Other Treatments are Involved: Study

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In an attempt to stamp down on the HIV epidemic among men who have sex with men or MSM, researchers from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine looked into the efficacy of the pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) drugs.

Findings published in The Lancet journal claimed that these PrEPs could aid in significantly lowering the new HIV infection rate among MSM when used side by side with other important preventive measures like regular HIV testing and early treatment.

The researchers added that, without the addition of PrEP, there will be a higher chance that HIV incidence among MSM in the U.K. won't be suppressed come 2020. On the other hand, the use of a three-pronged approach even to just 25 percent of those MSM who are in high-risk of contracting HIV can lead to about 7,400 new HIV infections prevented in the UK by the end of the decade.

"HIV transmission in men who have sex with men (MSM) in the UK has shown no sign of decreasing in the past decade. Additional prevention measures are needed. We aimed to estimate the effect of various potential interventions implemented individually and in combination on prevention of HIV infection," the researchers wrote.

Dr. Narat Punyacharoensin, who was part of the study at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, said that the numbers in terms of HIV rates among MSM have not gone down and close to 3,000 of these men were infected back in 2014. And, there is no signs of slowing down.

She said that the findings of their research only imply that pre-exposure prophylaxis is a key addition in the prevention of new infections and in the government's efforts in trying to reverse the HIV epidemic today among MSM in the U.K. She cited that the current measures, such as the focus on correct and consistent condom use and regular HIV testing, are not enough.

"The findings imply that a pre-exposure prophylaxis programme could be an important addition to current efforts to prevent HIV transmission in England," said Professor Noel Gill, Head of Public Health England's HIV and STI Department and another one of his co-authors.

"Public Health England has provided much evidence to NHS England to help inform their decision analysis process. This evidence includes studies on the cost-effectiveness, the budgetary impact, and public health impact of a possible publically funded HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis policy," he added.