Bloomberg View: A Pricey Weapon to Fight AIDS
New AIDS drug Truvada is worth it
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Public health experts gained another weapon in their battle against AIDS when the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved an HIV drug for preventive use. This will help pave the way for its authorization in developing countries. The drug, called Truvada, is expensive, but it could do considerable good in Africa if deployed smartly.
Made by California-based Gilead Sciences, Truvada has been used to treat HIV since 2004 and now will be available by prescription in the U.S. as a prophylactic against infection. In three trials, the drug prescribed daily reduced the chances of acquiring HIV by 44, 63, and 73 percent; in one trial, it failed to show efficacy.