DRUG DISCOVERY:
HIV/AIDS
Different Treatments to Combat and Prevent an HIV Infection
PrEP: Pre-exposure Prophylaxis
PrEP, or Pre-exposure Prophylaxis, is a combination of two HIV medicines, which is usually sold under the name Truvada. PrEP is taken by people at high risks for an HIV infection to lower their chances of actually catching the virus. The drug is prescribed to be taken daily, seeing as the effectiveness of the medicine decreases if not taken consistently. Daily use of PrEP lowers the risk of getting HIV from sexual contact by 90% and 70% for injection drug use.
PEP: Post-exposure Prophylaxis
PEP, or Post-exposure Prophylaxis, is taking antiretroviral drugs (ART) after potential exposure to HIV in order to prevent an HIV infection. PEP must be taken 72 hours within the possible exposure to the virus, the sooner, the better. Once taking PEP, one must continue taking it once or twice daily for 28 days. While the treatment does not have a 100% change to ensure someone to be HIV negative, it is still a valid method to try and prevent an HIV infection.
Antiretoviral Therapy (ART)
While there is no cure for HIV, there is a way to control the HIV virus. It is called Antiretroviral Therapy (ART). ART fights HIV through a combination of HIV drugs, called a HIV regimen, which have to be taken every day, just as prescribed. The medicines prohibit the virus from multiplying, giving a chance for the immune system to regenerate. Once the immune system is able to recover, it has a chance to fight infections and cancers. ART also allows one to reduce the chance of transmitting HIV. Antiretroviral therapy is recommended for all those who are HIV-positive, regardless of how long they have had HIV.
There are numerous HIV medicines, but they are grouped into six drug classes, according to the way in which they counter HIV:
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Non-nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors (NNRTIs)
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Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors (NRTIs)
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Protease Inhibitors (PIs)
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Fusion Inhibitors
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CCR5 Antagonists (CCR5s)
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Integrase Strand Transfer Inhibitors