HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is highly effective at preventing HIV acquisition and should be used more widely by eligible groups, a landmark new study into PrEP’s real-world effectiveness has confirmed.
While studies have previously been carried out on the effectiveness of PrEP within clinical settings, this is the largest real-world study involving trial participants at sexual health clinics, offering a chance to see just how effective the drug is when used in everyday life.
Findings from the study, led by the UK Health Security Agency and Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and funded by NHS England via the National Institute of Health and Care Research (NIHR), have now been published in medical journal The Lancet HIV.
The PrEP Impact Trial, involving more than 24,000 participants between October 2017 and July 2020, found use of HIV PrEP reduced the chances of getting HIV by 86% and considerably reduced HIV acquisition in real-world settings across several years of use.
The study was critical in informing routine commissioning of HIV PrEP which has been in place since October 2020. Findings from the study, which has confirmed the effectiveness of England’s approach on PrEP, will now support the ongoing delivery of the government’s HIV Action Plan to help achieve the goal of zero HIV transmissions by 2030.
Dr. John Saunders, Deputy Head of Programme Delivery and Service Improvement for STI and HIV Division, from UKHSA, said: "This trial has further demonstrated the effectiveness of PrEP in preventing HIV transmission and has, for the first time, shown the protective effect reported by earlier trials, but at scale and delivered through routine sexual health services in England.
"Now we know just how effective PrEP is in real-world settings, substantially reducing the chance of acquiring HIV. It’s vital that all those who can benefit from PrEP can access it. HIV testing and PrEP is available for free from sexual health services."
Dr. Roger Chinn, Chief Medical Officer, Chelsea and Westminster NHS Foundation Trust, said: "As a leading centre for HIV care and research in England, we have seen first-hand how PrEP has significantly reduced the transmission of HIV in our own population – transforming the lives of so many.
"By sponsoring this latest trial, we are proud to be supporting increased access to PrEP with the shared aim of ending new HIV infections by 2030."
