Public forum will discuss drug believed to prevent HIV transmission

Advocacy groups and health officials from San Francisco will meet tonight to discuss and raise questions about Truvada, a drug that studies have shown may help prevent HIV infections between men, according to the city’s newspaper.

Medical trials found that, when taken as a preventive measure by nearly 2,500 men, Truvada helped prevent HIV transmission in 78 percent of them.

The newspaper reports that the drug was most effective when taken regularly. Individuals tested in the trials were all men who have sex with men and were all considered at risk for contracting the disease.

The public forum will discuss who may benefit from taking Truvada, how at-risk populations can get it and how they can cover the $12,000 annual cost of the medication, the news source concludes.

HIV is incurable, and those infected may show no symptoms for months or years. Individuals concerned that they are HIV-positive may consider purchasing online testing services in order to find out.

Men who have sex with men account for slightly more than half of all U.S. cases of HIV and AIDS, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.