INDICATION & LIMITATION OF USE
DESCOVY® for HIV-1 pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is indicated in at-risk adults and adolescents (≥35 kg) to reduce the risk of sexually acquired HIV-1 infection, excluding individuals at risk from receptive vaginal sex. HIV-1–negative status must be confirmed immediately prior to initiation.
Limitation of Use: DESCOVY FOR PrEP® is not indicated in individuals at risk of HIV-1 from receptive vaginal sex because effectiveness in this population has not been evaluated.
Please see below for Important Safety Information for DESCOVY.
PrEP use can be long term1
A real-world study looked at ~14,000 people* who received PrEP care during a 6-year period1
(July 2012-March 2019; N=13,906)
Individuals engaged with PrEP care at any point during the retrospective study period1:
52.2% of those initiating PrEP discontinued at least once during the study
60.2% of those who discontinued reinitiated PrEP before the end of follow-up
(Hojilla JC, et al; 2017. Study used electronic health records from Integrated Health in Northern California)
*Prescriptions were filled for FTC/TDF or FTC/TAF for individuals aged ≥18 years with an indication for PrEP.
PrEP was first approved by the FDA in 2012. DESCOVY FOR PrEP® was approved in October 2019.2
When prescribing a potential long-term medication, such as PrEP, consider that3:
- Renal function may change over time
- Bone density is crucial for individuals of any age
81%
of oral PrEP users had ≥1 renal or bone risk factor
in a retrospective study analyzing EHR data of over 40,000 people prescribed oral PrEP between 01/01/2015 and 02/29/2020.3
Consider the long-term view when choosing a PrEP option, including impact on markers of renal function and BMD.
ADHD=attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder; BMD=bone mineral density; CDC=Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; CKD=chronic kidney disease; DXA=dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry; eGFR=estimated glomerular filtration rate; EHR=electronic health record; ESKD=end-stage kidney disease; ESRD=end-stage renal disease; FDA=US Food and Drug Administration; FTC/TAF=emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide fumarate; FTC/TDF=emtricitabine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate; GAHT=gender-affirming hormone therapy; GFR=glomerular filtration rate; LAAD=Longitudinal Access and Adjudication Data; MSM=men who have sex with men; NHANES=National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey; NSAID=nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug; PPI=proton pump inhibitor; SSRI=selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI is one class of drugs used to treat depression); TGW=transgender women (who have sex with men).