The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) on
Saturday endorsed the use of Truvada to reduce the risk of
contracting HIV.
The nation's largest LGBT rights
advocate released a policy paper in which it called the treatment
known as pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP, “a critically important
tool” in combating HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.
“HIV/AIDS disproportionately affects
members of the LGBT community, and despite nearly 30 years of
research, there are still 50,000 new cases of HIV each year,
two-thirds of which are among gay and bisexual men,” the
group said. “In addition, transgender women are also at high
risk of contracting HIV.”
“HRC does not take this position
lightly. We recognize there is still ongoing debate … and that
there are those out there who will disagree with out stance.”
Critics have argued that it's too early
to embrace Truvada as a prevention drug, noting its possible toxic
side effects and high price tag of up to $1,000 a month for the
uninsured. Others worry that the once-a-day pill will encourage
risky sexual behavior.
HRC also called on insurers to increase
coverage for the drug.
“Today, there is an unprecedented
chance to end the HIV/AIDS epidemic, in part through PrEP's
aggressive prevention of new HIV infections,” HRC President Chad
Griffin said. “There is no reason – medical or otherwise – to
discourage individuals from taking control of their sexual health and
talking to their doctor about PrEP.”