Prep yourself for better PrEP therapy
- by Revan Health & Revan Rx
The first PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) drug to be available in the U.S. was Truvada, which the FDA approved for HIV prevention in July 2012. It’s a once-a-day pill that changed the landscape for HIV prevention.
But like everything in HIV therapies and treatment, things change. Better treatments are available now, and we want you to know about your options for HIV prevention and care. There are now injectable PrEP medications, and the most innovative feature of the injectables is that they do not require daily dosing.
The first injectable PrEP medication, Apretude, was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on December 20, 2021. It was the first long-acting injectable treatment for HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP).
When starting Apretude therapy, you will receive initiation injections given 1 month apart for 2 consecutive months. After that, injections are given every two months, scheduled with your healthcare provider.
Again, things change and improve. The FDA approved Yeztugo (lenacapavir) on June 18, 2025, making it the first and only twice-yearly injectable HIV prevention (PrEP) option.
Jason Revel, Pharm. D., Founder and Director of Pharmacy Services at Revan Health and Revan Rx, said he has seen much better compliance with the long-acting injection method of PrEP therapy, whether it’s Apretude every 2 months or Yeztugo every 6 months. Revel is also a certified HIV Pharmacist with the American Academy of HIV Medicine.
“I would say at least 50% of our patients at Reven Health have switched to one of the two long-acting prep injections,” Revel said. “So far, the only disadvantage is injection pain for a couple of days after the injection; otherwise, our patients have been tolerating the injection extremely well.”
Patients also have to receive their injections in a clinic given by a trained provider.
Recent national estimates from the CDC indicate that only about 36% of people in the United States with an indication for PrEP were prescribed it in 2022, meaning roughly two-thirds of those who could benefit were not receiving this highly effective prevention option.
The CDC also asserts that PrEP is about 99% effective for sexual HIV prevention and at least 74% effective for injection-drug-use risk when taken as prescribed.
Think about these options. Rather than a daily dose, you can choose every two months or every six months for your PrEP regimen.
Revel said most insurance plans cover all PrEP formulations and applications, including tablets and injections and that patient assistance is available for those who meet income requirements.
“In fact, the ACA requires plans to cover HIV PrEP.”
Revel added that both PrEP injections are equally effective.
“I prefer patients to receive Yeztugo, which is an every-6-month injection,” he said. “Apretude is >99% effective and superior to oral PrEP in clinical trials, and Yeztugo is 96–100% effective in clinical trials and currently the longest-acting PrEP option available.”
You must test negative for HIV before being considered for any PrEP therapy. These injectables are not approved to treat HIV. You must immediately take other medicines if you get HIV. If you have HIV and only receive Yeztugo or Apretude, your HIV may become harder to treat down the road.
Your healthcare professional must administer these injectables, and you must continue with your HIV testing and blood work before receiving your dose. You must also strictly adhere to the medication administration schedule for it to be effective.
Reval also said that it is important to discuss Doxy PEP, or doxycycline post-exposure prophylaxis, as part of a comprehensive sexual health strategy.
“When appropriate, it is taken as Doxycycline 200 mg as soon as possible after oral, vaginal, or anal sex, and within 72 hours,” he said. “It should not be taken more than once every 24 hours.”
Doxy PEP has been shown to reduce syphilis and chlamydia infections by more than 70% and gonorrhea infections by approximately 50%.
Apretude, Yeztugo and Doxy PEP are available through Revan Health Care as well as oral PrEP therapy. To schedule your PrEP therapy appointment, call (405) 896-7978.
Remember: It is important to go to every appointment as scheduled to help you stay continuously protected from HIV. Get tested for other STIs and practice safer sex by using condoms to reduce the risk of getting STIs.
The Gayly online. 07/09/26 @ 9:52 a.m. CST.