Tenofovir trials raise ethical issues

The development of safe, effective and accessible prevention methods has become one of the most urgent global public health needs. Whether the antiretroviral drug tenofovir (Viread), a nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitor, is appropriate for use as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PREP) for the prevention of HIV infection is currently being studied in a number of clinical trials. However, recent controversies over perceived defects in trial design and implementation, and inadequate consultation with the communities involved, threaten to prevent ongoing research unless closer collaboration between researchers and activists can be established.