May 31, 2012
On May 10, a US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advisory committee met to discuss whether to recommend that oral TDF/FTC (brand name Truvada) be approved for HIV prevention in HIV-negative adults. The committee ultimately decided to recommend approval, and an FDA decision is expected by June 15. The twelve-hour day included an array of presentations, questions and testimony from the public.
For many people who attended the proceedings or watched online, some of the most memorable remarks were made by Matthew Rose, a member of AVAC’s PxROAR program. “I ask you to give my community another option. I do not believe that a single drug or strategy will be what ends this epidemic. But give people options and choices that will work for them, things science tells us will give us a chance.” Copies of Matthew’s full remarks and those from other advocates—including AVAC Executive Director Mitchell Warren, amfAR’s Chris Collins, and others—are available at www.prepwatch.org. Visit PrEP Watch for continuing coverage of this issue.