Great news!

But wait.

It costs 11,000 U.S. dollars a year (in the U.S.) for the doses and doubtful any insurance company would pay for it.

Just curious, is this med available in Thailand and what would the cost be in Thailand for a year's supply?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/fda-advisory-committee-recommends-approval-of-first-drug-for-preventing-hiv/2012/05/10/gIQA5YzdGU_story.html

For the first time in the 30-year battle against the HIV epidemic, a panel of experts has recommended that the Food and Drug Administration approve a drug to give to healthy people to protect against the infection.

This isnt huge news for the every day man currently but if they work prices down over the years its massive news. But the real news is that surgons and nurses who do deal with people who are possibly HIV positive can have a much better chance of not being screwed over by some junkie. A hospital would love to cover the cost of this vaccine rather than have an employee become positive.

It's not a vaccine.

This is a long-standing drug already used (in combination with other meds) for treatment.

Like all antiretroviral drugs it has some significant side effects.

Would be indicated only in extremely high risk situations. In those, it probably would be cost effective in that its cost would be less than the cost of treating an HIV infection.

Truvada is available in Thauiland both under that name (an import) and in a localy made generic (Ricovir-Em).

2100 thb per month/ 1050 thb in generic form at Anonymous Clinic.

remarks:

-contamination risk is 44 % lower, is it worth the residual risk?;

-only 10 % of men in test case seem to be able to take these pills correctly (daily);

-virus strain might become resistant if person who takes truvada alone is already poz (for poz should be taken with other drugs)

> spread of resistant strain;

-why would someone prefer to take this daily med instead of practising safe sex? common side effects : osteoporosis, impaired kidney function , liver problems, disturbed lipid profiles (cholesterol);

it's a line of prevention for some populations but not a vaccine nor a guarantee.

Good and interesting information. I hadn't realized the side effects were that bad but its good to know that the cost in Thailand for those who might benefit from this medication are within reason. I am more than amazed at the price differential though! Wow. Annual cost 11K USD in the U.S. vs. as low as 12K BAHT in Thailand.

US FDA final approval of Truvada yesterday, the first drug that prevents transmission of HIV. http://www.nydailyne...ticle-1.1115712

People are supposed to practice safe sex AND use the med. Why would people use it? Well its targeted for partners of HIV plus people and clinical studies show (when combined with safe sex) that is significantly reduces risk of infection. Safe sex solely might not be as safe as many of us would like to think.

It is a phoney when you start reading the fine print.

Given the significant side effects, the cost and the fact that it is only been proven to be partially effective it is a big lemon.

It is a phoney when you start reading the fine print.

Given the significant side effects, the cost and the fact that it is only been proven to be partially effective it is a big lemon.

If you are negative and having frequent sex with a positive person, it's not such a big lemon. It's only targeted to a very small group of people. Yes, it is too expensive but apparently not so much in Thailand. A question I have is if the target group should also include promiscuous people in general when the status of partners is unknown, but statistically high that lots of the partners will be positive.