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Comment by nothrowaways | Hacker News Reader

> Among 5338 participants who were initially HIV-negative, 55 incident HIV infections were observed...

Wait what? Those 55 got infected during the trial. What was the incentive to get exposed?

All 55 of those infections were observed in trial participants randomised to the tenofovir/emtracitabine groups. There were no infections in the lenacapavir group.

The site also indicated that "Adherence to F/TAF and F/TDF was low" which means those that got infected most likely weren't taking their pills on a daily basis, unfortunately.

It's not hard to find groups of society where expose to HIV is very high, which are the ideal groups to study. Many people in these groups see contracting HIV as inevitable and do not fear it as you would expect, as it is not seen as a shame or death as as it was around the late 80s.

There subculture of people are people who actively try to transmit / contract HIV, often at so called "biohazard parties".

"biohazard parties" are for HIV+ men only. you don't have to fear transmitting HIV if your partners are already HIV+.

Maybe when on treatment, otherwise superinfections are a thing and associated with poorer outcomes.

Just to interject, but I’m a bisexual male and I’ve never once heard of a biohazard party in real life

Yes, it can be confusing if you only read part of a sentence. Recommend continue reading if you're interested in the findings

So I won't tell you to keep reading like others (which you should), but these studies don't work by some research scientist having an HIV+ blood IV at the ready with some "you might notice a little prick" trope, they offer these medications to people that are already in high-risk groups and are conducting activities that make them the most likely demographic to obtain or transmit HIV. Folks like promiscuous homosexuals, prostitutes, drug addicts (risk of sharing needles), and focus groups like that.

I think this study was just young African women in a high incidence area. They basically picked the most likely place in the world a person would get it

Yes.

They did this study in a high risk group, so that rate of infection was expected

HNers need to stop downvoting questions, however “stupid” they might sound.

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