9 Investigates unintended consequences of a new HIV drug

The Orlando Immunology Center is conducting clinical research on "PrEP, or pre-exposure prophylaxis," a daily pill that is very effective at preventing the spread of HIV. 

"All it takes is one time. You get caught up in the moment and you kind of lose track of things," said Eric Babcock, who is HIV negative and participated in the PrEP study.

Babcock is participating in a nationwide clinical study that aims to prevent the spread of HIV. He takes two unidentifiable pills a day that is either the FDA approved Truvada, or a new pill called Descovy.

Both pills treat HIV, only Truvada is approved as a method to prevent catching the disease. So far, doctors said Truvada is a great option that is saving livings.

"We cannot say that it is a 100 percent protection, but it is very rare to see a patient that is very adherent to the medication get infected," said Dr. Edwin DeJesus, with the Orlando Immunology Center. 

DeJesus said with the increased prevention of HIV, he is seeing the spread of other STI’s or sexually transmitted infections.

Syphilis is a big epidemic in Central Florida, DeJesus said.

“From what I've seen in the community, a lot of people are, ‘Oh, I'm taking PrEP, so I don't have to worry about safe sex,’ and that scares me,” Babcock said.

“Truvada is actually more effective than using a condom to prevent HIV,” DeJesus said.

DeJesus said he fears some people are ditching the less reliable condom for the highly effective pills. He said employees at his clinic work hard to stress the importance of using condoms and also taking the pills.

Babcock told Channel 9’s Janine Reyes that his friend took the pills in the study, but missed some doses and tested positive for HIV.

Every patient in the study at the Orlando Immunology Clinic are tested regularly for STDs/STIs.

Cox Media Group