First year Amsterdam PrEP project complete

28 October 2016

Last year the Public Health Service of Amsterdam (GGD) started the Amsterdam PrEP project, a research project focused on the applicability of PrEP for HIV prevention among men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender individuals. PrEP is a pill containing antiretrovirals that can prevent an HIV infection. International research has demonstrated PrEP’s effectiveness with correct usage. We now have a picture of the first 200 participants and of national developments over the past year. Almost three-quarters of participants preferred daily PrEP to event-based use (before and after sex). Around 20% of participants had a sexually transmitted infection (STI) at the start. New STI data from the past year are not yet available. PrEP protected almost all participants from HIV. Two participants contracted an HIV infection in the past year. In other recent developments, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) approved PrEP for prevention in August and, though health insurance does not yet cover PrEP in the Netherlands, a PrEP guideline was published for professionals in September.

Read the full press release on the GGD Amsterdam website