California Is First to Allow Over-The-Counter Sale of PrEP (AVN)

Read the full article by Mark Kernes at AVN.com

SACRAMENTO, Calif.—The New York Times has reported that "Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo declared that New York is on track to meet its goal to end the AIDS epidemic in the state by 2020," since there were just 2,481 new HIV cases reported in the state in 2018, 11 percent less than in 2017 and 28 percent less than in 2014—and it looks like something similar can be said for California.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2016, there were just 15.2 new HIV cases reported per 100,000 population, and it appears that that rate is decreasing, not only in California but nationwide—and one of the reasons for that may be the increased availability of pre-exposure prophylaxis drugs (PrEP), which if taken regularly block the ability of the human immunovirus (HIV) to infect the body.

That's why it's particularly good news to hear that under the recently passed Senate Bill 159, sponsored by state Sen. Scott Weiner of San Francisco—the assembly version was introduced by San Diego's Todd Gloria—California will be leading the pack in allowing PrEP drugs like Truvada to be sold over-the-counter at pharmacies without the need of a prescription.