Pre-exposure prophylaxis

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is the use of antiretroviral medication by people without HIV to reduce their chance of acquiring HIV. It can be taken as pills or, in some settings, long-acting injections.

Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate: An antiretroviral prodrug used in HIV treatment and prevention, including oral PrEP. It is a key component of widely used daily oral PrEP regimens.
Oral PrEP: HIV prevention using antiretroviral tablets taken daily or, for some people, around anticipated sex. It is the established pill-based approach to pre-exposure prophylaxis.
Antiretroviral therapy: Combination medication used to suppress HIV in people living with the virus. PrEP is for people without HIV, whereas antiretroviral therapy treats established infection.
iPrEx: A landmark international clinical trial that tested daily oral tenofovir-emtricitabine for HIV prevention among men who have sex with men and transgender women. Its results helped establish oral PrEP as an effective prevention strategy.
Emtricitabine: A nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor used in HIV treatment and prevention. Combined with tenofovir, it blocks viral replication during oral PrEP.
On-demand PrEP: An event-driven oral PrEP regimen taken before and after sex, recommended for some populations in some guidelines. It can suit people whose HIV exposure is occasional rather than daily.
Treatment as prevention: The use of effective HIV treatment to prevent sexual transmission by people living with HIV. It prevents transmission by suppressing the source of exposure rather than medicating the HIV-negative partner.
PROUD study: A UK clinical trial that found immediate access to daily PrEP sharply reduced HIV acquisition among gay and bisexual men at high risk. It supplied evidence supporting routine PrEP access in a high-incidence population.
Long-acting cabotegravir: An injectable integrase inhibitor administered at intervals to prevent HIV infection. It offers an alternative to daily pills for HIV prevention.
HIV prevention: Public-health and individual measures that reduce the transmission and acquisition of HIV. PrEP is one part of a broader strategy that also includes testing and condoms.

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