It is seen as a milestone by some. It recently became the first drug to be approved by the FDA to prevent the spread of HIV, but the president of the Aids Healthcare Foundation says it will ultimately set back years of HIV prevention efforts and many agree with him.
Theresa Nowlin contracted HIV in the eighties.
"I was like, walking dead," HIV patient, Theresa Nowlin said.
Today, she is healthy and to treat the virus she takes one pill a day that is made up of three medications.
"That has everything in it that I need," Theresa explained.
Truvada was included.
Now, the FDA has approved Truvada, by itself, to prevent HIV. Theresa's thinks it's an amazing step.
"It's going to make a difference in a lot of people's lives," Nowlin said.
If Truvada is taken daily, it can stop the virus from replicating.
"So even if that one copy gets inside of a cell, it can't do anything," Medical Research Director, Dr. Kenneth Mayer, MD, of the Fenway Institute, explained to Ivanhoe.
While condoms are still the best protection, Dr. Kenneth Mayer of the Fenway Institute believes Truvada is another good option to fight HIV and could benefit couples where one partner is positive and the other is not.
"There are many people who have been concerned that this medication may increase risky practices," Dr. Mayer said.
"I'm very leery of opening Truvada to everybody," HIV patient, Scott Galinsky, told Ivanhoe.
Scott Galinsky is HIV positive and is worried the drug will promote bad choices, like unsafe sex.
"Coming from that community of risky behavior and drug addiction, I think it just kind of gives free reign to them," Galinsky explained further.
So is Truvada a positive or negative for the fight against HIV? It seems that could depend on who you agree with.
Dr. Mayer says studies are being conducted to see if Truvada can be taken less frequently and still be effective. If not covered by insurance, Truvada can cost ten-thousand dollars a year. However, when it goes generic in 2017 it should cost around $100 a year.
Theresa Nowlin contracted HIV in the eighties.
"I was like, walking dead," HIV patient, Theresa Nowlin said.
Today, she is healthy and to treat the virus she takes one pill a day that is made up of three medications.
"That has everything in it that I need," Theresa explained.
Truvada was included.
Now, the FDA has approved Truvada, by itself, to prevent HIV. Theresa's thinks it's an amazing step.
"It's going to make a difference in a lot of people's lives," Nowlin said.
If Truvada is taken daily, it can stop the virus from replicating.
"So even if that one copy gets inside of a cell, it can't do anything," Medical Research Director, Dr. Kenneth Mayer, MD, of the Fenway Institute, explained to Ivanhoe.
While condoms are still the best protection, Dr. Kenneth Mayer of the Fenway Institute believes Truvada is another good option to fight HIV and could benefit couples where one partner is positive and the other is not.
"There are many people who have been concerned that this medication may increase risky practices," Dr. Mayer said.
"I'm very leery of opening Truvada to everybody," HIV patient, Scott Galinsky, told Ivanhoe.
Scott Galinsky is HIV positive and is worried the drug will promote bad choices, like unsafe sex.
"Coming from that community of risky behavior and drug addiction, I think it just kind of gives free reign to them," Galinsky explained further.
So is Truvada a positive or negative for the fight against HIV? It seems that could depend on who you agree with.
Dr. Mayer says studies are being conducted to see if Truvada can be taken less frequently and still be effective. If not covered by insurance, Truvada can cost ten-thousand dollars a year. However, when it goes generic in 2017 it should cost around $100 a year.
