Whitman-Walker Health, a leader in LGBTQ health care and HIV treatment in Washington, D.C., is using Wednesday’s PrEP Awareness Day to highlight an underutilized tool in HIV prevention that has proven 99% effective when taken as prescribed.
Pre-exposure Prophylaxis, or PrEP, is a medication regimen designed for anyone who may be sexually active or exposed to HIV through sex or injection drug use, including both adults and adolescents. Since receiving FDA approval on July 16, 2012, the treatment has provided what health officials call a crucial layer of protection against HIV transmission.
The medication is available as a daily pill or as an injection administered by a health care provider every two months or twice yearly.
HIV remains a significant public health challenge, with more than 1.2 million people in the United States living with the virus and thousands of new infections occurring annually. PrEP has become a cornerstone of comprehensive HIV prevention strategies, offering protection for heterosexual individuals with HIV-positive partners, men who have sex with men, transgender individuals, cisgender women and people who inject drugs.
Women can use PrEP independently without their partners’ involvement, knowledge or consent. The medication can also help protect pregnant individuals and their babies from HIV infection while trying to get pregnant, during pregnancy or while breastfeeding, according to health care providers.
Research and Innovation
The Institute for Health Research & Policy at Whitman-Walker serves as the District’s hub for community-led research on HIV, including groundbreaking studies on injectable PrEP conducted in partnership with clinical colleagues at Whitman-Walker Health.
Dr. Namrata Shah, medical director of research at the Institute for Health Research & Policy at Whitman-Walker and infectious disease staff physician for Whitman-Walker Health, serves as the lead investigator of the Purpose 2 trial at Whitman-Walker. The trial examines lenacapavir, a twice-yearly injection that Shah says could transform HIV prevention.
“Lenacapavir isn’t just a biomedical tool, it is a prevention option that reflects what our communities have been asking for: discretion, autonomy and choice,” Shah said.
She noted that the long-acting profile could benefit people who struggle with taking daily pills, particularly those dealing with pill fatigue or frequent clinic visits.
“So many of our patients miss doses because of stigma or unstable housing. Lenacapavir has the potential to bypass these barriers,” Shah said.
The Institute also leads numerous other studies on HIV prevention and treatment, including research focused on ensuring access to PrEP among diverse LGBTQ+ communities and specifically among Black women.
Usage Gap
Whitman-Walker Health is the leading health care provider of PrEP in the District. Despite the medication’s proven efficacy, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that less than 25% of the approximately 1.2 million Americans who could benefit from PrEP are currently using it.
This statistic highlights the need for enhanced public education and outreach to ensure that more individuals, especially those in marginalized communities, are aware of and have access to PrEP, according to health officials.
“Whitman-Walker Health has led D.C.’s efforts in implementing PrEP as an effective prevention strategy,” said Juan Carlos Loubriel, senior director of community health and wellness at Whitman-Walker Health. “PrEP Awareness Day is our call to action to provide access to and education on this effective medication to prevent HIV in our communities, particularly vulnerable communities.”
Loubriel emphasized that the medication represents an opportunity for individuals to take control of their sexual and overall health on their own terms.
“If we are serious about ending the HIV epidemic, we must continue to address health inequities and increase access and education to PrEP for everyone,” he said.
Whitman-Walker is calling on all District residents, health care providers and community organizations to participate in efforts to increase awareness, understanding and accessibility of PrEP. Through collective action, officials say they can work toward a future free from HIV and ensure the health and safety of all community members.
