New website dedicated to PrEP research

PrEP Watch, a comprehensive information source on the web regarding pre-exposure prophylaxis for HIV prevention, has just been launched by the AIDS Vaccine Advocacy Coalition.

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) refers to an experimental HIV-prevention strategy that would use anti-retrovirals to protect HIV-negative people from HIV infection. PrEP is not proven to work; in the strategy that is currently being tested, HIV-negative people would take a single drug, or a combination of drugs, daily in hopes that this would protect them against HIV infection. Along with AIDS vaccines and microbicides, PrEP is one of the experimental HIV-prevention strategies being tested in clinical trials today.

PrEP Watch features a regularly-updated table of planned and ongoing trials as well as current information including scientific findings, advocacy documents, and meeting reports.

Following is a welcoming, explanatory note to prevention advocates from AVAC's Executive Director Mitchell Warren about PrEP Watch.

Dear Advocates,

Over the past year, AVAC has maintained a special section of the AIDS Vaccine Clearinghouse dedicated to research on pre-exposure prophylaxis(PrEP) for HIV prevention. Now, in collaboration with the UCLA Program in Global Health, we are delighted to launch an updated and expanded "PrEPWatch" website.

At this site, you'll find an expanded array of resources, an up-to-date table of ongoing PrEP trials, and a variety of links to other helpful information sources. We hope you'll visit the site and forward the link to your colleagues and friends.

PrEP is an experimental strategy; its benefits have not been proven. The research that is ongoing is looking at whether the daily use of antiretrovirals by HIV-negative people can help reduce their risk of becoming infected through sexual intercourse (vaginal and anal) and injection drug use.

As part of the site, we're also developing a set of frequently asked questions and we'd love to hear what's on your mind when it comes to PrEP or other aspects of prevention research. While we may not be able to post the answers to all your questions on the website, we will do our best to answer every one we receive. Please send your questions to faq@prepwatch.org.

We look forward to hearing from you!

Mitchell