PrEP Not Reaching Most Who Could Potentially Benefit

A new CDC study suggests that only a small percentage of Americans who could potentially benefit from pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), a daily pill for HIV prevention, have been prescribed it. In the first detailed analysis by race and by risk group, CDC researchers found while two-thirds of those who could potentially benefit from PrEP are African American or Latino, these groups account for the smallest percentage of prescriptions to date.

Key Findings

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In 2015, there were approximately 1.1 million Americans who could potentially benefit from PrEP according to CDC guidelines, including:

	•	500,000 African Americans
	•	300,000 Latinos
	•	300,000 whites

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However, during a similar time period (September 2015 – August 2016), prescriptions filled at retail pharmacies or mail order services included as few as:

	•	7,000 for African Americans
	•	7,600 for Latinos
	•	42,000 for whites

"One of our most powerful tools for HIV prevention remains largely on pharmacy shelves."

– Jonathan Mermin, MD, MPH, Director of CDC's National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention

"Closing gaps is an important step for PrEP."

– Eugene McCray, MD, Director of CDC's Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention

"We now have a powerful picture of where PrEP's potential impact could be greatest."

– Dawn K. Smith, MD, MPH, MS, Epidemiologist and Medical Officer in CDC's Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention

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