About PrEP

What is PrEP? 

PrEP stands for Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis. PrEP is an HIV prevention strategy that uses anti-HIV medications to fight HIV in people who do not have HIV to reduce the risk of HIV. There are currently three drugs approved for PrEP by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA): 

• Daily oral emtricitabine and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate, sold under the brand name Truvada® 
• Daily oral emtricitabine and tenofovir alafenamide, sold under the brand name Descovy® 
• Long-acting injectable cabotegravir, sold under the brand name Apretude® 

HPTN 091 will include an approved PrEP agent (Descovy® and Truvada® in the U.S., Truvada® in Brazil). In Brazil, the only approved medication for PrEP is Truvada.  

For more information about PrEP and transgender women visit https://www.pleaseprepme.org/trans. 

What is Truvada for PrEP? 

Truvada is a daily oral pill for PrEP that contains two anti-HIV medications: emtricitabine (FTC) and tenofovir (TDF). Truvada is approved for PrEP for all adults and adolescents at risk of HIV. Truvada works by preventing HIV from making copies of itself. This means that if you are exposed to HIV and you have been taking Truvada every day, the virus is more likely to die before multiplying in your body. Studies have shown that Truvada reduces the risk of acquiring HIV from sex by about 99% when taken as prescribed. Truvada for PrEP is safe. Most people taking Truvada do not have any serious side effects from the medicine. 

For more information about Truvada for PrEP visit truvada.com. 

What is Descovy for PrEP? 

Descovy is a daily oral pill for PrEP that was approved by the U.S FDA for use among men who have sex with men and transgender women. Descovy is similar to Truvada but uses a different form of tenofovir called tenofovir alafenamide (TAF) instead of TDF. Descovy is as effective as Truvada in preventing cisgender men and transgender women from acquiring HIV. Descovy is approved for PrEP in adult and adolescent cisgender men and transgender women but has not been studied in other populations.  

For more information about Descovy for PrEP visit descovy.com/prep. 

What is Apretude for PrEP? 

Apretude is a long-acting injectable for PrEP that was recently approved by the U.S. FDA for PrEP in adults and adolescents weighing at least 35 kilograms (77 pounds). Apretude for PrEP is a single injection of cabotegravir (CAB) given every eight weeks. Results from HPTN 083 and HPTN 084 showed CAB is superior to daily oral tenofovir/emtricitabine (TDF/FTC) for HIV prevention among cisgender men and transgender women who have sex with men (HPTN 083) and cisgender women (HPTN 084).  An optional daily oral lead-in may be used to assess the tolerability of cabotegravir. 

For more information about Apretude for PrEP visit apretude.com. 

What is in the future for PrEP? 

Recent HPTN studies, HPTN 083 and HPTN 084, showed that a PrEP regimen containing long-acting injectable cabotegravir (CAB LA), also known as Apretude, is highly effective for the prevention of HIV among cisgender women, cisgender men and transgender women who have sex with men. More information about HPTN 083 is available at giveprepashot.org or hptn.org/research/studies/hptn083.  More information about HPTN 084 is available at 084life.org or hptn.org/research/studies/hptn084.