Tag: Prep

In June 2025, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved twice-yearly injectable lenacapavir for HIV prevention, marking a significant milestone in long-acting pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). This major regulatory decision is central to the latest news about lenacapavir injections, alongside new guidance from the World Health Organization (WHO) and positive clinical trial results among diverse populations, including adolescents.

Lenacapavir offers a groundbreaking schedule for HIV management, with maintenance injections required only twice a year, representing a significant shift from daily oral medications. So, what is the schedule for lenacapavir for both heavily treatment-experienced patients and those using it for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP)?

In June 2025, the FDA approved Yeztugo (lenacapavir), the first and only twice-yearly injectable for HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). For individuals considering this innovative treatment, the pressing question is, "Will insurance cover Yeztugo?".

In a 2012 study, researchers found that for each year HIV-positive patients took the tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) contained in Truvada, their risk of chronic kidney disease increased by 33%. This has led many to question: **Does Truvada affect the kidneys?**. The answer is yes, particularly with long-term use, and understanding this impact is crucial for patient care and monitoring.

First approved by the FDA in 2003, emtricitabine (FTC) is a nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI). This classification places it among the essential antiretroviral drugs used in combination to treat and prevent HIV infection, leveraging its unique mechanism to block viral replication.

While peak plasma levels of emtricitabine are reached within just 1 to 2 hours of a dose, its time to maximum effectiveness against HIV, or how fast does emtricitabine work, varies significantly depending on the specific use, such as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) versus active treatment. The critical factor is achieving sufficient intracellular concentrations of its active form, which takes consistent daily dosing over several days or weeks.

Tenofovir is a nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI) that is a mainstay of many antiretroviral therapy combinations. People who take tenofovir do so for several crucial reasons, most commonly for the treatment of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection, the management of chronic Hepatitis B (HBV) infection, or for HIV prevention, known as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP).

The FDA approved the first long-acting injectable medication for HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in late 2021. The primary brand-name for cabotegravir for PrEP, an integrase inhibitor that prevents HIV from establishing an infection, is Apretude.

When taken as prescribed, PrEP is up to 99% effective at preventing HIV from sexual contact. However, potential users must also consider what is the downside to PrEP, including side effects, cost, and the need for strict adherence.

When taken consistently, PrEP reduces the risk of getting HIV from sex by about 99%. However, a number of factors, including poor medication adherence, starting PrEP with an undetected HIV infection, and transmitted drug resistance, can all cause PrEP to fail.