The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 280 No 7486 p76
26 January 2008

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HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis

Pre-exposure to antiretroviral drugs prevents vaginal transmission of HIV-1 in mice, a US study suggests (PLoS Medicine 2008;5:1).

Researchers carried out intravaginal inoculation in mice genetically modified to make them susceptible to such infection. Mice given a seven-day course of emtricitabine and tenofovir were protected against infection. The researchers suggest that pre-exposure prophylaxis together with other behavioural interventions could provide protection to men and women at risk of HIV infection.