Category Archives: Prevention

CDC Backs Twice-Yearly Injectable for HIV Prevention

September 25, 2025 administrator Leave a comment

The CDC made a strong recommendation based on a high certainty of evidence to use the long-acting injectable lenacapavir (Yeztugo) for HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), but will that ensure the treatment’s place in the nation’s health plan formularies?

“[Lenacapavir] is a highly effective and safe PrEP option administered every 6 months, which provides the potential to improve PrEP adherence and thus enhance HIV prevention in the United States,” the CDC’s PrEP Guidelines Work Group stated in its clinical recommendation, published last week in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Reportopens in a new tab or window.

Even so, the CDC’s new position on lenacapavir won’t necessarily convince all U.S. private and public health insurers to cover the PrEP drug. “Just because an injectable is in the CDC clinical guidelines doesn’t mean all insurance companies have to pay for it,” Monica Gandhi, MD, of the University of California San Francisco and the HIV Clinic at Ward 86, told MedPage Today.

Read the full article.

HIV, News and Information, Prevention

NIH ponders overhauling HIV budget to capitalize on prevention breakthrough

August 13, 2025 administrator Leave a comment

From Science.org…

In a push to end the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the United States, leaders at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) are discussing the possibility of a massive shift in investment away from basic research and toward “implementation science”—studies of the most effective way to use existing treatment and prevention tools, such as the breakthrough drug lenacapavir. Science has learned the agency may devote $1 billion—roughly one-third of the agency’s budget for HIV—to the approach. NIH Director Jayanta “Jay” Bhattacharya has said a major push is needed to exploit the promise of lenacapavir, which provides 6 months of protection with a single shot.

The idea has alarmed scientists both inside and outside NIH because basic research that drives HIV treatment, prevention, and cure advances would lose about $800 million annually. Scientists also question whether so much money can be spent responsibly on HIV-related implementation science. The proposal received a critical reception at an ad hoc meeting of the NIH HIV/AIDS Executive Committee (NAEC), which advises the agency’s Office of AIDS Research (OAR), according to the minutes of a 30 July meeting of the committee that Science obtained.

Read the full article on Science.org.

Health Alerts, News and Information, Prevention, Research

‘Devastating’: NIH cancels future funding plans for HIV vaccine consortia

June 3, 2025 administrator Leave a comment

From Science.org…

In a move that could bring future research on HIV vaccines to a near halt, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) notified researchers today that it will not renew funding next year for two major consortia in the beleaguered field, Science has learned. NIAID also recently stopped funding three research groups that evaluate experimental vaccines in monkeys.

The notification, which was communicated verbally by NIAID program officers, “couldn’t have happened at a worse time, because the recent clinical trial results [for candidate HIV vaccines] are very promising,” says Dennis Burton of Scripps Research, who heads one of the two Consortia for HIV/AIDS Vaccine Development (CHAVD).

Although researchers in the field acknowledge a vaccine for the AIDS-causing virus remains far off, the new leads have brought a fresh sense of optimism, and many scientists say they demand vigorous follow up. “This sets us back at a pivotal moment,” says Mitchell Warren, executive director of AVAC, a nonprofit that advocates for HIV prevention. The consortia “really have been pioneers in vaccine discovery,” says Warren, who is not involved in their work.

Read the full article.

HIV, Prevention

CDC Updates Post-Exposure Prophylaxis Guidelines

May 13, 2025 administrator Leave a comment

From Poz online…

In a long-awaited update, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued new guidelines for HIV post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) on May 6. The new guidance—the first revision since 2016—now includes more modern antiretrovirals taken for a month after non-occupational exposure, such as sex or injection drug use.

Unlike pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), which involves taking antiretroviral pills every day or injections every other month prior to HIV exposure, post-exposure prophylaxis is a month-long course of antiretrovirals started as soon as possible after sex or another type of exposure that presents substantial risk.

Non-occupational PEP should be started within 72 hours after exposure, but the sooner the better. In the new guidance, the CDC emphasizes the importance of starting PEP within 24 hours, if possible. Recommendations are similar for PEP after occupational exposure, for example, a health care provider who sustains a needlestick when caring for an HIV-positive patient.

Read the full article.

PrEP, Prevention, Research

Factors Associated with PrEP Stigma Among Gay, Bisexual, and Other Men Who Have Sex with Men (gbMSM): A Systematic Review

March 25, 2024 administrator Leave a comment

New research on PubMed…

“Gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (gbMSM) are disproportionately affected by HIV. While pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is highly effective at preventing HIV acquisition, uptake of PrEP among gbMSM is low, which may in part be due to stigma associated with PrEP use.”

Find out more on PubMed.

The CDC reports that PrEP is highly effective for preventing HIV when taken as prescribed. PrEP reduces the risk of getting HIV from sex by about 99%. To find out more about PrEP, you can also visit our Data to PrEP program page.

If you’re looking for PrEP providers, visit the CDC’s PrEP online locator at https://preplocator.org/.

Health Alerts, Prevention

HHS Announces Department Actions to Slow Surging Syphilis Epidemic

February 6, 2024 administrator Leave a comment

From HIV.gov…

U.S. Syphilis Cases Reach Highest Levels Since the 1950s, Creating a Critical Public Health Need.

In response to the surging number of syphilis and congenital syphilis cases nationwide, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is taking action to slow the spread with a focus on those most significantly impacted. Through the establishment of the National Syphilis and Congenital Syphilis Syndemic (NSCSS) Federal Task Force, the Department is utilizing its agencies, its expertise, and its stakeholder network to respond to the U.S. syphilis and congenital syphilis epidemic. The actions of the Task Force leverage federal resources to reduce rates, promote health equity, engage impacted communities, and direct resources to support those most impacted.

“The syphilis crisis in our country is unacceptable. The Biden-Harris Administration is committed to addressing this urgent issue and using all available means to eliminate disparities in our health care system,” said HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra. “These actions we are taking will help ensure we are improving outcomes for birthing parents and newborns. We must prevent more deaths caused by congenital syphilis, an entirely preventable disease.”

Read the full article on HIV.gov.

HIV, PrEP, Prevention

Expanding PrEP Coverage in the United States to Achieve EHE Goals

October 31, 2023 administrator Leave a comment

From HIV.gov…

These data provide additional evidence that HIV prevention efforts in the U.S. are moving in the right direction. Earlier this year, CDC published data that showed accelerated progress in reducing new HIV infections over the past five years, likely due to expanded testing, treatment, and PrEP. This progress is promising, and efforts must be further strengthened and expanded to reach all populations equitably and achieve our national goals.

Overall in 2022, 36% of the 1.2 million people who could benefit from PrEP were prescribed it, compared to 23% in 2019, the year that EHE was announced. Today’s data also show progress in increasing PrEP uptake in virtually all EHE jurisdictions, despite the unprecedented public health challenges funding recipients faced during this period with the COVID-19 pandemic and outbreaks of mpox, which consumed considerable resources as EHE efforts were just getting underway.

Read the full article on HIV.gov.

Prevention

U.S. health officials endorse common antibiotic as ‘morning-after pill’ to combat sexually transmitted infections

October 4, 2023 administrator Leave a comment

From PBS.org…

U.S. health officials plan to endorse a common antibiotic as a morning-after pill that gay and bisexual men can use to try to avoid some increasingly common sexually transmitted diseases.

The proposed CDC guideline was released Monday, and officials will move to finalize it after a 45-day public comment period. With STD rates rising to record levels, “more tools are desperately needed,” said Dr. Jonathan Mermin of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The proposal comes after studies found some people who took the antibiotic doxycycline within three days of unprotected sex were far less likely to get chlamydia, syphilis or gonorrhea compared with people who did not take the pills after sex.

Read the full article on PBS.org.

HIV, HIV care, Prevention

Community Health Centers and Their Role in Ending the HIV Epidemic

May 2, 2023 administrator Leave a comment

From HIV.gov…

Watch HIV.gov’s latest FYI video with Harold J. Phillips, MRP, Director of the White House Office of National AIDS Policy (ONAP). In the video, Mr. Phillips discusses what you should know about the critical role community health centers continue to play in ending the HIV epidemic in the U.S.

Community health centers have been partners in addressing the HIV epidemic since the beginning and have been providing HIV care and treatment services to individuals with HIV for many years. Now, due to increased funding since the launch of the Ending the HIV Epidemic in the U.S. (EHE) initiative, the role of community health centers has expanded, whereby they are now able to provide additional services, such as access to HIV testing, PrEP and PEP, and linkage to care and treatment. For example, a federal partner, the Bureau of Primary Health Care at the Health Resources and Services Administration has funded over 300 health centers to increase access to HIV prevention services, including testing and PrEP. “[Community] health centers […], given their role in providing primary care services, are also able to provide an array of comprehensive medical services that address things like high blood pressure, cholesterol, and heart disease, and other coexisting conditions that impact people living with HIV,” said Mr. Phillips.

Find out more at HIV.gov.

Prevention, Research, STIs

Sexually transmitted infections higher among women with disabilities

December 19, 2022 administrator Leave a comment

In a study entitled “Sexually Transmitted Infections in Women of Reproductive Age by Disability Type,” researchers analyzed data from the 2015 to 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health and found that the incidents of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) was more than twice as high for women of reproductive age who have cognitive disabilities, as compared to those without disabilities. The data analysis also showed that women with sensory disabilities also had higher rates of STIs.

The report, published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine (AJPM), also found “the odds of sexually transmitted infections varied by race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, and substance use.”

Find out more on the AJPM website.