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2. More Evidence Shows PrEP Is Highly Effective

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) was again a major HIV story in the mainstream media in 2015, amid growing evidence that it is highly effective both in research studies and in real-world practice when taken consistently.

At the Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI) in February researchers reported that tenofovir/emtricitabine (Truvada) PrEP, taken either once-daily in the U.K. PROUD study or "on-demand" before and after sex in the French Ipergay study, reduced the risk of HIV infection by 86%. In clinical practice, both Kaiser Permanente San Francisco and the San Francisco AIDS Foundation's Magnet Program reported no new HIV infections among more than 600 people taking PrEP.

PrEP use continued to expand, especially among gay and bisexual men, as it was promoted by community members and public health officials. Experts estimate that some 30,000 people may be taking PrEP in the U.S., though this is likely an underestimate.

But many more could potentially benefit. In November the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a report indicating that more than 1.2 million people in the U.S. may be eligible for PrEP, including 1 in 4 gay and bi men, 1 in 5 people who inject drugs, and 1 in 200 heterosexual adults. Yet PrEP use remains uneven, with important disparities based on age and race/ethnicity.

Internationally, in November and December France and South Africa became the second and third countries, after the U.S., to approve tenofovir/emtricitabine for HIV prevention.

Next: 3. Better Options for Treating HCV Genotype 3 and Advanced Liver Disease