1983: AIDS Identified in France

The AIDS epidemic initially appeared in gay men in major cities like New York and Los Angeles around 1981, manifesting as rare cancers and infections. As the connection between these cases became clear, scientists recognized a single infectious disease was at play. By 1983, researchers at the Pasteur Institute in France identified the virus causing these symptoms—Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)—formally identifying the disease. This crucial discovery underscores the importance of safe sexual practices, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), and understanding HIV prevention.

1987: AZT Approved to Treat AIDS

The first HIV test in 1964 evaluated the effectiveness of azidothymidine (AZT), initially an experimental cancer drug. AZT was later found to suppress HIV replication without harming normal cells. After successful clinical trials, the FDA approved AZT in 1987, transforming AIDS from a fatal condition to a manageable chronic illness and paving the way for further HIV/AIDS treatments.

2012: PrEP Receives FDA Approval

Despite available treatments, the community still faced anxiety over unprotected sex without an approved HIV prevention method. Condom use was necessary but not a foolproof method. Nearly 30 years after the first antiretroviral treatment, the FDA approved the first oral PrEP medication, Truvada, in 2012. Two years later, the CDC recommended PrEP for high-risk groups, including gay and trans individuals. In 2014, the FDA approved a second PrEP medication, Descovy.

2016: Undetectable = Untransmittable

In July 2016, top HIV/AIDS researchers issued a groundbreaking consensus: if a patient’s viral load is undetectable for at least six months, they cannot transmit the virus. This Undetectable = Untransmittable (U=U) principle marked a significant step in ending both the epidemic and the stigma against HIV-positive individuals. Despite this, PrEP remains vital in reducing HIV transmission rates, especially when combined with regular treatment.

However, the history of PrEP would not be complete without mentioning Dr. Dawn K.  Smith. Dr. Smith was a trailblazer in PrEP research, playing a key role in ensuring people could use and access it. She led the first safety study on PrEP at the CDC and helped create guidelines for doctors on how to use it. Dr. Smith was a passionate researcher who published over 100 articles during her career. Her work focused on important topics like public health, health equity, HIV prevention, and women’s health. 

She led a major study examining how PrEP was prescribed and used in community health centers. She also uncovered barriers to accessing PrEP, studied differences in how different groups used PrEP, and used mathematical models to understand better what was needed for PrEP implementation.

She combined her expertise in medicine, public health, and statistics with her passion for equity, education, and science to make a huge difference in countless people's lives. Because of this, Dr. Smith is often called the “mother of PrEP.”

Even with all the amazing advances and life-changing science in the fight against HIV/AIDS, there are still obstacles that keep many high-risk people from getting the preventive care they need. At PrEP2Me, we’re all about breaking down those barriers so you can get your PrEP prescription online, no matter where you are in the country. We also help you get the meds you need, regardless of your insurance situation, to ensure that anyone who needs PrEP can access it