Can Descovy be used for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in HIV?
Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Oct 3, 2019.
Official Answer
by Drugs.comYes. The FDA approved Descovy (emtricitabine and tenofovir alafenamide) for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to reduce the risk of HIV-1 infection in October 2019.
Descovy was first approved in April 2016 in combination with other antiretoviral drugs to treat HIV-1 infection in adults and pediatric patients 12 years of age and older.
PrEP is an HIV prevention method in which people who do not have HIV take medicine on a daily basis to reduce their risk of getting HIV if they are exposed to the virus.
Descovy for PrEP is indicated for use in at-risk, adult and adolescent HIV-negative men and transgender women (≥35 kg) to reduce the risk of sexually acquired HIV-1 infection.
Descovy is the second medicine to be FDA approved for PrEP, after the approval of Truvada (emtricitabine and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate) in July 2012.
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Drug Information
- Descovy Information for Consumers
- Descovy Information for Healthcare Professionals (includes dosage details)
- Side Effects of Descovy (detailed)
Related Support Groups
- Descovy
- HIV Infection (40 questions, 222 members)
- Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis
