PrEP Medications Show Significant Population-Level Impact in Reducing New HIV Diagnoses

A recent study published in the Lancet HIV has shed light on the effectiveness of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) medications in preventing new HIV infections. The research, conducted by a team of scientists at Emory University, analyzed data from a nationwide commercial pharmacy database and public health surveillance data to assess the impact of PrEP on HIV diagnoses in the United States.

Key Takeaways:

• The study found a significant inverse dose-response relationship between PrEP coverage and HIV diagnoses, with areas with higher PrEP coverage experiencing larger declines in HIV diagnoses.
• From 2012 to 2022, mean PrEP coverage across the USA increased dramatically from 0.6% to 26.3%, and HIV diagnosis rates decreased modestly from 13.0 to 10.6 per 100,000 population.
• The study suggests that higher levels of PrEP coverage are associated with larger reductions in HIV diagnoses, even accounting for effects of viral suppression on HIV transmission.
• The research highlights the importance of increasing access to PrEP for people with indications, as programs and policies to lower barriers to PrEP use may be associated with subsequent population-level declines in new HIV diagnoses.

Statistics:

• Mean PrEP coverage across the USA increased from 0.6% in 2012 to 26.3% in 2022.
• HIV diagnosis rates decreased from 13.0 per 100,000 population in 2012 to 10.6 per 100,000 population in 2022.
• Proportionate decreases in HIV diagnoses were higher in states with higher PrEP coverage.
• The study found a significant inverse dose-response relationship between PrEP coverage and HIV diagnoses, with areas with higher PrEP coverage experiencing larger declines in HIV diagnoses.

Sources:

• "Association of State-level Prep Coverage and New Hiv Diagnoses In the Usa From 2012 To 2022: an Ecological Analysis of the Population Impact of Prep." Lancet HIV, 2025;12(6).