Plus, July-August 2024

IMPORTANT FACTS

MOST IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT BIKTARVY

BIKTARVY may cause serious side effects, including:

 Worsening of hepatitis B (HBV) infection. Your healthcare provider will test you for HBV. If you have both HIV-1 and HBV, your HBV may suddenly get worse if you stop taking BIKTARVY. Do not stop taking BIKTARVY without first talking to your healthcare provider, as they will need to check your health regularly for several months, and may give you HBV medicine.

ABOUT BIKTARVY

BIKTARVY is a complete, 1-pill, once-a-day prescription medicine used to treat HIV-1 in adults and children who weigh at least 55 pounds. It can either be used in people who have never taken HIV-1 medicines before, or people who are replacing their current HIV-1 medicines and whose healthcare provider determines they meet certain requirements.

BIKTARVY does not cure HIV-1 or AIDS. HIV-1 is the virus that causes AIDS.

Do NOT take BIKTARVY if you also take a medicine that contains:

 dofetilide

 rifampin

 any other medicines to treat HIV-1

BEFORE TAKING BIKTARVY

Tell your healthcare provider all your medical conditions, including if you:

 Have or have had any kidney or liver problems, including hepatitis infection.

 Are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

 Are breastfeeding (nursing) or plan to breastfeed. Do not breastfeed if you have HIV-1 because of the risk of passing HIV-1 to your baby.

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take:

 Keep a list that includes all prescription and over-thecounter medicines, antacids, laxatives, vitamins, and herbal supplements, and show it to your healthcare provider and pharmacist.

 Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist about medicines that interact with BIKTARVY.

This is only a brief summary of important information about BIKTARVY® and does not replace talking to your healthcare provider about your condition and your treatment.

POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS OF BIKTARVY

BIKTARVY can cause serious side effects, including:

 Those in the “Most Important Information About BIKTARVY” section.

 Changes in your immune system.

 New or worse kidney problems, including kidney failure.

 Too much lactic acid in your blood (lactic acidosis), which is a serious but rare medical emergency that can lead to death. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get these symptoms: weakness or being more tired than usual, unusual muscle pain, being short of breath or fast breathing, stomach pain with nausea and vomiting, cold or blue hands and feet, feel dizzy or lightheaded, or a fast or abnormal heartbeat.

 Severe liver problems, which in rare cases can lead to death. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get these symptoms: skin or the white part of your eyes turns yellow, dark “tea-colored” urine, light-colored stools, loss of appetite for several days or longer, nausea, or stomach-area pain.

 The most common side effects of BIKTARVY in clinical studies were diarrhea (6%), nausea (6%), and headache (5%).

These are not all the possible side effects of BIKTARVY. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have any new symptoms while taking BIKTARVY.

Your healthcare provider will need to do tests to monitor your health before and during treatment with BIKTARVY.

GET MORE INFORMATION

 This is only a brief summary of important information about BIKTARVY. Talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist to learn more.

 Go to BIKTARVY.com or call 1-800-GILEAD-5

 If you need help paying for your medicine, visit BIKTARVY.com for program information.

FEATURES

16 TREATING YOU RIGHT

In our 12th annual Treatment Guide, we give you a rundown of today's most effective medications used to treat HIV.

22 HIT ME WITH YOUR BEST SHOT Here are the injectables currently approved for treating and preventing HIV.

23 PREPPING FOR FUN

Nowadays, preventing HIV transmission is easier than ever.

BUZZWORTHY

6 RECLASSIFYING CANNABIS Biden takes a big step to decriminalize marijuana.

8 MPOX UPDATE

A new strain has experts urging at-risk folks to get vaccinated.

PARTING SHOT

24 BEAUTIFUL MUSIC

Drag artists display their classical talents at a London Pride event.

A CONVERSATION WITH Q

We chat with multi-talented season 16 Drag Race finalist Q about growing up queer, her amazing artistry, and why she decided to share her HIV status with the the world.

ON THE COVER & ABOVE Q photographed by Tanner Abel

editor in chief DESIRÉE GUERRERO

executive creative director RAINE BASCOS

EDITORIAL

senior editor JOHN CASEY

senior copy editor TRUDY RING

contributing writers CHRISTOPHER WIGGINS, TRUDY RING, BERNARDO SIM

ART

graphic designer MARIUSZ WALUS

digital photo editor NIKKI AYE

EQUALPRIDE EDITORIAL

editor in chief, out DANIEL REYNOLDS editor in chief, out.com RAFFY ERMAC

deputy editor, out.com BERNARDO SIM editor in chief, the advocate DESIRÉE GUERRERO

editor in chief, advocate.com ALEX COOPER

managing editor, out traveler DONALD PADGETT

editor in chief, pride.com RACHEL SHATTO

deputy editor, pride.com DARIC COTTINGHAM

senior editor JOHN CASEY

sr. national reporter CHRISTOPHER WIGGINS

staff writers RYAN ADAMCZESKI, RICKY CORNISH, MEY RUDE

community editor MARIE-ADÉLINA DE LA FERRIÈRE

ADVOCATE CHANNEL

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Plus (ISSN 1522-3086) is published bimonthly by equalpride. Plus is a registered trademark of equalpride. Entire contents ©2024 by equalpride. All rights reserved. Printed in the U.S.A.

Welcome to Plus magazine’s 12th annual Treatment Guide issue! Thanks to the amazing breakthroughs in treatment over the past few decades, people living with HIV are living long, happy, healthy lives — including thriving and satisfying sex lives. With so many safe and effective options now available, including one-pill regimens and long-acting injectables, treating and preventing HIV is simpler and easier than ever.

Today, HIV can quickly be suppressed to undetectable levels once one is on treatment. And once you reach undetectable, you then have a zero chance of passing HIV to a sexual partner, even without use of a condom. This globallyaccepted consensus is also known as U=U or “undetectable equals untransmittable.” Scientific advancements like this and the development of PrEP (HIV prevention medications) have freed people living with HIV and their partners to enjoy sex like never before. Go to page 16 to check out this year’s Treatment Guide.

In this issue we also got a chance to catch up with the queen of couture herself, RuPaul’s Drag Race star, Q. In our exclusive interview beginning on page 11, the artist and activist opens up about growing up queer in a conservative small town, learning to love herself, how she got her start in drag, and why she decided to share her HIV status on the show.

Speaking of drag, some very talented queens and performers recently got an opportunity to show off their classical music skills at a special London Pride celebration (pg 24). Also read the latest news about a developing new strain of mpox (page 8) and about how the Biden administration made a major move to federally decriminalize marijuana (page 6).

As always, I hope you find some facts, fun, and inspiration in this very special issue of Plus.

Be well,

DESIRÉE GUERRERO editor in chief

a note from our ceo

Dear Plus Readers, Welcome to the July/August issue, where we dedicate our pages to exploring the advancements in HIV medication and the profound impact these improvements have had on the lives of those living with HIV.

This year, we are honored to feature Q from RuPaul’s Drag Race on our cover. Q’s courageous decision to come out about living with HIV on the show has not only raised awareness but also inspired countless individuals to embrace their truth with pride and resilience. Their story is a powerful testament to the progress we have made in both treatment and acceptance.

Throughout this issue, we celebrate the remarkable strides in HIV treatment over the years. We’ve come a long way from the early days of limited options and severe side effects to the current landscape of highly effective treatments with fewer side effects. These advancements have not only improved health outcomes but also enhanced the quality of life for many.

At Plus, we are committed to providing you with the latest information and insights on HIV treatment, as well as sharing the personal stories that bring these advancements to life. We aim to be a resource and a source of inspiration for our readers, reminding everyone that living with HIV is not a barrier to leading a full, vibrant life.

As you read through this issue, we hope you find valuable information, uplifting stories, and a renewed sense of hope. Together, we continue to move forward, breaking down stigma and celebrating the progress that has been made.

Thank you for your continued support.

With gratitude,

Mark Berryhill, Chief Executive Officer

BUD BUDDY

The Biden administration moves to reclassify marijuana, making it federally legal with prescriptions.

BY CHRISTOPHER WIGGINS

President Joe Biden’s administration is changing how the federal government views marijuana. The Department of Justice has taken a historic step in cannabis reform, submitting a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to the Office of the Federal Register on May 16.

The NPRM proposes reclassifying marijuana from a Schedule I to a Schedule III drug, aligning with Biden’s directive in 2022 for a thorough review of marijuana’s scheduling.

Currently, marijuana is classified as a Schedule I drug alongside substances like heroin, indicating a high potential for abuse and no accepted medical use. This classification places marijuana higher than fentanyl and methamphetamine, the primary drivers of the ongoing overdose epidemic. Reclassifying marijuana to Schedule III would acknowledge its accepted medical uses and lower potential for abuse.

President Joe Biden

What Are Schedule III Drugs?

Schedule III drugs are substances that have a moderate to low potential for physical and psychological dependence. These drugs are considered to have accepted medical uses in the United States. Some examples of Schedule III substances include anabolic steroids, used for muscle growth and to treat hormonal issues; ketamine, an anesthetic that can also be used to treat depression and pain; and testosterone, used for hormone therapy. Reclassifying marijuana to Schedule III would place it in the same category as these substances, recognizing its medical value and reducing the legal restrictions associated with its use.

“This is monumental,” Biden said in a video released by the White House. “Today, my administration took a major step to reclassify marijuana from a Schedule I to a Schedule III drug. It’s an important move towards reversing longstanding inequities.” The NPRM’s publication in the Federal Register will kick off a 60-day public comment period. The DEA Administrator may assign an Administrative Law Judge to review the evidence and make a final scheduling recommendation. The DOJ will then issue the final determination and publish it in the Federal Register.

Historic Actions on Marijuana Reform

Data from the 2020 National Survey on Drug Use and Health suggest that substance use patterns reported by LGBTQ+ adults differ from those reported by heterosexual adults. Approximately 41 percent of LGBTQ+ adults aged 18 and older reported past-year marijuana use, compared to 18.7 percent of the overall adult population. Almost seven percent of LGBTQ+ adults in 2020 misused opioids (prescription opioids or heroin) in the past year, compared to 3.6 percent of the overall adult population.

Biden has been a vocal advocate for marijuana policy reform, asserting that no one should be jailed for using or possessing marijuana.

These policies have disproportionately affected Black and brown communities despite similar usage rates across racial groups.

“In 2022, President Biden called on the Department of Justice and the Department of Health and Human Services to review how marijuana is scheduled as part of his Administration’s historic work on marijuana reform,” a senior administration official said. “DOJ and HHS led that process, guided by science and evidence, to determine how marijuana should be scheduled.”

Biden has taken several notable actions to address the disparities. In an October 6, 2022 proclamation, Biden granted a full, complete, and unconditional pardon to all current U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents who committed or were convicted of the offense of simple possession of marijuana.

In December 22, 2023, Biden extended this pardon to include offenses of attempted simple possession and use of marijuana. “My intent by this proclamation is to pardon only the offenses of simple possession of marijuana, attempted simple possession of marijuana, or use of marijuana in

88%

of U.S. adults say either that marijuana should be legal for medical use only (32%) or that it should be legal for medical and recreational use (57%).

11%

of U.S. adults say the marijuana should not be legal in any form.

Source: “9 facts about Americans and marijuana,” Pew Research Center, 2024

violation of Federal and D.C. laws,” Biden said, emphasizing that the pardon does not apply to other controlled substance offenses or activities beyond simple possession.

Reclassifying marijuana is viewed as a critical step in rectifying the long-term impacts of the war on drugs, which has disproportionately affected minority communities. “Look, folks, no one should be in jail for merely using or possessing marijuana. Period,” Biden said in his video message. “Far too many lives have been upended because of a failed approach to marijuana, and I’m committed to righting those wrongs. You have my word on it,” he added.

Recreational marijuana use is currently legal in 24 states, and medical marijuana is legal in 17.

PREVENTATIVE MEASURES

With a new strain of mpox developing overseas, the CDC is urging those at high risk, including gay and bi men, to get vaccinated.

BY TRUDY RING

WITH A SEVERE version of mpox breaking out in the Democratic Republic of Congo, officials with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are warning that it could spread and that people at risk should be vaccinated as soon as possible.

High-risk populations include men who have sex with men, although anyone can contract the disease, which is largely spread by skin-toskin contact — sexual relations, for instance, but also in crowds at outdoor festivals. Thousands of gay and bisexual men developed mpox in a 2022 outbreak. People with compromised immune systems, such as those living with HIV, are at high risk for serious cases and death.

There are two main types of mpox: Clade I, the type that is dominant in Congo, and Clade II, a version of which caused the 2022 global outbreak,” The New York Times reported. Clade I is deadlier than Clade II, the Times noted, explaining that “a clade is a genetically and clinically distinct group of viruses.”

No Clade I cases have been documented outside of Congo yet, but a global spread is possible, as the 2022 outbreak that affected Europe and North America originated in Nigeria.

“This is a very important example of how an infection anywhere is potentially an infection everywhere, and why we need to continue to improve disease surveillance globally,” Anne Rimoin, an epidemiologist at the University of California, Los Angeles, told the Times.

Many of the cases in Congo were among sex workers, both male and female, and their clients, plus men who have sex with men, according to the CDC. The symptoms of mpox infection include fever, severe headache, back pain, a rash, and sometimes sores at the infection site.

There were about 30,000 cases of mpox in the U.S. in 2022 but only 1,700 last year, thanks to vaccines and changes in behavior, the CDC reports. However, only 23 percent of at-risk Americans have gotten both necessary doses of the Jynneos vaccine against mpox, so CDC scientists are urging all those at risk to be vaccinated. The vaccine is now available at pharmacies in the U.S., making it easier to access than previously.

A recent Government Accountability Office report found serious flaws in the federal government’s response to the 2022 outbreak. The Department of Health and Human Services’ internal communication was poor, hampering coordination of efforts to fight mpox, according to the report. Democratic U.S. Rep. Ritchie Torres of New York, a gay man, has introduced legislation to improve communication within federal agencies and messaging to at-risk populations.

CABENUVA is the only complete long-acting HIV treatment you can get every other month to replace daily HIV pills in people who meet certain requirements. It’s 2 injections from a healthcare provider–– as few as 6 times a year.*

GOOD TO GO WITHOUT HIV PILLS IMAGINE BEING

ASK YOUR DOCTOR ABOUT CABENUVA

Important Facts About CABENUVA (KAB-en-ew-vah)

This is only a brief summary of important information about CABENUVA and does not replace talking to your healthcare provider about your condition and treatment.

ABOUT CABENUVA

CABENUVA is a complete prescription regimen used to treat HIV-1 infection in people 12 years and older who weigh at least 77 lbs (35 kg), to replace their current HIV-1 medicines when their healthcare provider determines that they meet certain requirements. HIV-1 is the virus that causes Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). CABENUVA contains 2 different medicines:

• cabotegravir

• rilpivirine

It is not known if CABENUVA is safe and effective in children younger than 12 years of age or weighing less than 77 lbs (35 kg).

DO NOT RECEIVE CABENUVA IF YOU

• have ever had an allergic reaction to cabotegravir or rilpivirine.

• are taking the following medicines:

rifampin rifapentine

St John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum) carbamazepine oxcarbazepine phenobarbital phenytoin rifabutin

dexamethasone (more than a single-dose treatment)

Ashton

On CABENUVA

BEFORE RECEIVING CABENUVA

Tell your healthcare provider about all your medical conditions, including if you:

• have ever had a skin rash or an allergic reaction to medicines that contain cabotegravir or rilpivirine.

• have ever had liver problems, including hepatitis B or C infection.

• have or ever had kidney problems.

• have ever had mental health problems.

• are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if CABENUVA will harm your unborn baby. CABENUVA can remain in your body for up to 12 months or longer after the last injection.

Please see additional Important Facts About CABENUVA on the following page.

*Your every-other-month regimen begins after 2 once-monthly starter doses. It’s important to receive CABENUVA as scheduled and attend all treatment appointments.

Important Facts About CABENUVA (cont’d)

BEFORE RECEIVING CABENUVA

(cont’d)

Tell your healthcare provider about all your medical conditions, including if you: (cont’d)

• are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. CABENUVA may pass into your breast milk. Talk to your healthcare provider about risks to your baby from breastfeeding during or after treatment with CABENUVA.

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Some medicines interact with CABENUVA. Keep a list of your medicines and show it to your healthcare provider and pharmacist when you get a new medicine. You can ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for a list of medicines that interactwith CABENUVA. Do not start taking a new medicine without telling your healthcare provider. Your healthcare provider can tell you if it is safe to take CABENUVA with other medicines.

POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS OF CABENUVA

CABENUVA may cause serious side effects, including:

• Allergic reactions. Call your healthcare provider right away if you develop a rash with CABENUVA. Stop receiving CABENUVA and get medical help right away if you develop a rash with any of the following signs or symptoms: fever generally ill feeling tiredness muscle or joint aches trouble breathing blisters or sores in mouth blisters

redness or swelling of the eyes swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue

POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS OF CABENUVA (cont’d)

CABENUVA may cause serious side effects, including: (cont’d)

• Liver problems. Liver problems have happened in people with or without history of liver problems or other risk factors. Your healthcare provider may do blood tests to check your liver function. People with a history of liver problems or people who have certain liver function test changes may have an increased risk of developing new or worsening changes in certain liver tests during treatment with CABENUVA. Call your healthcare provider right away if you develop any of the following signs or symptoms of liver problems: your skin or the white part of your eyes turns yellow (jaundice) dark or “tea-colored” urine light-colored stools (bowel movements) nausea or vomiting loss of appetite pain, aching, or tenderness on the right side of your stomach area itching

• Depression or mood changes. Call your healthcare provider or get emergency medical help right away if you develop any of the following symptoms: feeling sad or hopeless feeling anxious or restless have thoughts of hurting yourself (suicide) or have tried to hurt yourself

The most common side effects of CABENUVA include:

• pain, tenderness, hardened mass or lump, swelling, redness, itching, bruising, and warmth at the injection site

• fever

• headache

• muscle or bone pain

• nausea

• sleep problems

• dizziness

• tiredness

feeling light-headed or feeling like you are going to pass out (faint) blood pressure changes

• Post-injection reactions have happened within minutes in some people after receiving their rilpivirine injection. Most symptoms resolved within minutes after the injection. Symptoms may include: trouble breathing narrowing of airways stomach cramps sweating numbness of your mouth pain (e.g., back and chest) feeling anxious feeling warm rash

• rash

These are not all the possible side effects of CABENUVA. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

GET MORE INFORMATION

• Talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist.

• Go to CABENUVA.com or call 1-877-844-8872, where you can also get FDA-approved labeling.

December 2023 CBN:6PIL

Trademarks are property of their respective owners.

$ Are Paying Most People

for CABENUVA through a Specialty Pharmacy after coverage and assistance options

† Individuals may be responsible for varying out-of-pocket costs based on an individual’s plan and its benefits design. Additional costs may be incurred for product administration. Based on Feb 2022 to Jan 2023 data only from Specialty Pharmacies (on file with ViiV Healthcare).

©2024 ViiV Healthcare or licensor.

CBRADVR240003 February 2024

Produced in USA.

Q reflects on her life, discusses her journey on Drag Race, and looks ahead to the next dreams she wants to come true.

BY BERNARDO SIM

he Emmy Award-winning RuPaul’s Drag Race series has featured legendary drag artists like Ongina (season 1) and Trinity K. Bonet (season 6), trailblazers who shared their journeys as people living with HIV. But ever since Drag Race moved to its biggest-ever network, MTV, and started streaming its past episodes on services like Paramount+ and WOW Presents Plus, season 16 star Q has become the first cast member to discuss her HIV status on this global platform that is now reaching a record-breaking number of fans from around the world.

On episode 11 of Q’s season, the runway category “DragCon 1980” inspired Q to open up about living with HIV. “I’m doing something very sentimental for the runway today,” she confided to her costars. “It’s inspired by the generation of gay people we lost to the AIDS epidemic in the ’80s. I’ve been HIV-positive for two years now.”

When Q walked the runway in a Keith Haringinspired look, the judges were mesmerized by the stunning outfit and powerful message that she’d brought to the most popular LGBTQ+ show on television. Haring was a well-known artist and activist who rose to fame in the 1980s and died from HIV-related causes at 31 years old. Q ultimately placed fourth in the overall competition, but the dent she made in breaking down stigma is truly immeasurable.

“I was giving myself an ultimatum to come out and tell my family about it. If I did this on the show, it would force me to have that conversation with them.” Q tells Plus. “I remember how scared and alone I felt when I was diagnosed. [Being] on RuPaul’s Drag Race, I didn’t want people to feel like [that diagnosis] is the end. It can feel like that in the moment. It feels so final. But it’s not.”

She adds, “I had been on PrEP before, but I was off PrEP at the time and I can’t remember

Q poses backstage during

MTV’s RuPaul’s Drag Race season 16 premiere extravaganza presented by ViiV Healthcare at Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City.

I was giving myself an ultimatum to come out and tell my family about it. If I did this on the show, it would force me to have that conversation with them.

A few of Q’s amazing couture creations that she displayed on Drag Race season 16’s runway, including her Keith Haringinspired tribute to those lost to AIDS (bottom right).

why. I meant to get back on it, but I hadn’t. When I started feeling down and getting kind of sick, I decided to go get tested early with an at-home test. It came back positive, and it was scary. I was alone, and I just didn’t even know what to do. My husband was at a clinical rotation a couple of hours away, but he immediately came back just to be with me and comfort me and make sure that he was there for me. And I’m positive, but my husband’s negative.”

But the choice to keep this information from her family did come from a place of love for Q. “It wasn’t hurting anything, them not knowing,” she says. “I was healthy and hadn’t gone through any complications with my diagnosis. And my mom…she worries so much about everything.

She worries when it rains too hard out. I didn’t want her to worry or to take on the stress of something that didn’t need to be so stressful.”

Q’s story begins in Emporia, Kansas, in the mid-1990s. The city, which sits between Wichita and Topeka, has an estimated population of 25,000. According to the 2020 United States Census Bureau, however, Emporia has somehow shrunk to fewer than 24,000 residents in the last two decades.

“My dad passed away when I was three, so my mom raised me,” Q says. “She worked as a teacher’s aide. She’s married now, but she was a single mother raising four kids in rural Kansas. We kind of had to figure things out a lot of times.”

The second-oldest child of four, Q had a hard time growing up as a “different, effeminate, and queer” kid in a financially struggling family. Surprisingly, this resulted in Q playing a lot of sports. “But I was terrible,” she adds, laughing. “It was honestly hard for me to accept [my sexuality] for a while. I dated a lot of girls even through middle school.”

“My mom eventually thought I might like theater and the arts, so I started doing local theater around second or third grade. I’ve been doing that since I was little,” she says. “I came out in junior year — and once I came out, any problems I had with anybody saying anything about my sexuality immediately dissipated. Once you come out, it kind of takes power away

from people trying to use it as something negative.”

Q graduated from high school and moved to Lawrence to attend the University of Kansas. She finally found a clique of queer friends in college, and they introduced her to RuPaul’s Drag Race just as season 7 was airing. “I loved Violet Chachki for her fashion, but I honestly thought Ginger Minj was going to take it,” Q recalls. “But I didn’t even start thinking about doing drag until my senior year of college.”

College taught Q about queerness, art, design, and costume-making. Upon graduating, she moved to Kansas City and met her eventual drag mother, Mulan Gabby, who taught her to make clothes and be a professional drag queen. Q started establishing herself in the local bar scene and doing open shows, and after five years of hard work, here she is: a Drag Race alum and the latest cover star of Plus. Looking ahead, Q talks about wanting to tour the world and maybe even create her own fashion events at some point. “I’ve always had this dream,” she adds, “of putting together a huge runway collection of just avant-garde, custom couture fashion…like having my own runway show. That would be so sickening — having a bunch of queens walk in it. I think it’s something that’s never been done before. I know it’s a huge project, but it’s something that I’d love to do.”

THE 12TH ANNUAL HIV TREATMENT GUIDE

Our breakdown of the most commonly prescribed, FDA-approved medications for the treatment and prevention of HIV and its related conditions.

BY PLUS EDITORS

COMPLETE REGIMENS

Atripla

generic name: efavirenz, emtricitabine, and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate maker: Gilead Sciences

traditional dosage: One tablet once a day. Each tablet contains 600mg efavirenz, 300mg tenofovir disoproxil fumarate, and 200mg emtricitabine. Take on an empty stomach.

Biktarvy

generic name: bictegravir, emtricitabine, and tenofovir alafenamide maker: Gilead Sciences

traditional dosage: One tablet once a day. Each tablet contains 50 mg bictegravir, 25 mg tenofovir alafenamide, and 200 mg emtricitabine. Can be taken with or without food.

Cabenuva

generic name: cabotegravir and rilpivirine maker: ViiV Healthcare

traditional dosage: Monthly injection of 400 mg cabotegravir and 600 mg rilpivirine, or an every-2-month injection of 600 mg cabotegravir and 900 mg rilpivirine. (An oral lead-in period prior to your first injection is no longer required.)

Complera

generic name: emtricitabine, rilpivirine, and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate maker: Gilead Sciences

traditional dosage: One tablet once daily. Each tablet contains 25 mg rilpivirine, 300 mg tenofovir disoproxil fumarate, and 200 mg emtricitabine. Take with food.

Delstrigo

generic name: doravirine, lamivudine, and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate maker: Merck

traditional dosage: One tablet once a day. Each tablet contains 100mg doravirine, 300mg tenofovir disoproxil fumarate, and 300mg lamivudine. Take with or without food.

Dovato

generic name: dolutegravir and lamivudine

maker: ViiV Healthcare

traditional dosage: One tablet per day. Each tablet contains 50 mg dolutegravir (Tivicay, an II) and 300 mg lamivudine (Epivir, an NRTI).

Genvoya

generic name: elvitegravir, cobicistat, emtricitabine, and tenofovir alafenamide

maker: Gilead Sciences

traditional dosage: One tablet once a day. Each tablet contains 150 mg elvitegravir, 150 mg cobicistat, 10 mg tenofovir alafenamide fumarate, and 200 mg emtricitabine. Take with food.

Juluca

generic name: dolutegravir and rilpivirine

maker: ViiV Healthcare

traditional dosage: One tablet once a day. Each tablet contains 50mg dolutegravir and 25mg rilpivirine. Must be taken with a meal.

Odefsey

generic name: emtricitabine, rilpivirine, and tenofovir alafenamide

maker: Gilead Sciences

traditional dosage: One tablet once a day. Each tablet contains 25 mg rilpivirine, 200mg emtricitabine, and 25mg tenofovir alafenamide fumarate. Take with food.

*Unless otherwise noted, all dosages are the traditional adult dose.

Stribild

generic name: elvitegravir, cobicistat, emtricitabine, and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate

maker: Gilead Sciences

traditional dosage: One tablet once a day. Each tablet contains 150 mg elvitegravir, 150 mg cobicistat, 300 mg tenofovir disoproxil fumarate, and 200 mg emtricitabine.Take with food.

Symfi/Symfi Lo

generic name: efavirenz, lamivudine, and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate

maker: Mylan

traditional dosage: One tablet of either Symfi or Symfi Lo once a day. Each tablet of Symfi contains 600mg efavirenz, 300mg tenofovir disoproxil fumarate, and 300mg lamivudine. Each tablet of Symfi Lo contains 400mg efavirenz, 300mg tenofovir disoproxil fumarate, and 300mg lamivudine. Take on an empty stomach.

Symtuza

generic name: darunavir, cobicistat, emtricitabine, and tenofovir alafenamide

maker: Janssen

traditional dosage: One tablet once a day. Each tablet contains 800 mg darunavir, 150mg cobicistat, 200mg emtricitabine and 10mg tenofovir alafenamide. Take with food.

Triumeq

generic name: dolutegravir, abacavir, and lamivudine

maker: ViiV Healthcare

traditional dosage: One tablet once a day. Each tablet contains 50 mg dolutegravir, 600 mg abacavir, and 300 mg lamivudine. Triumeq alone is not recommended for people with known resistance to abacavir, lamivudine, or any approved integrase inhibitors. Take with or without food.

Nucleoside/Nucleotide Reverse

Transcriptase Inhibitors

Cimduo

generic name: lamivudine and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate maker: Mylan

traditional dosage: One tablet once a day, used in combination with other HIV drugs. Each tablet contains 300 mg tenofovir disoproxil fumarate and 300 mg lamivudine. Take with or without food.

Descovy

generic name: emtricitabine and tenofovir alafenamide fumarate maker: Gilead Sciences for hiv treatment: One tablet once a day, used in combination with other antiretroviral drugs. Each tablet contains 200mg emtricitabine and 25mg tenofovir alafenamide fumarate. Take with or without food. for hiv prevention: One tablet once daily. Safer sex practices recommended for greatest preventative results. Descovy for PrEP is not currently FDA-approved for individuals assigned female at birth. Take with or without food.

Emtriva

generic name: emtricitabine maker: Gilead Sciences

traditional dosage: One 200 mg capsule once daily, used in combination with other HIV drugs. There is also a 10mg/mL oral solution available (daily dosage is adjusted depending on patient’s current creatinine levels). Take with or without food.

Epivir

generic name: lamivudine maker: ViiV Healthcare

traditional dosage: One 300mg tablet once a day, or one 150mg tablet twice a day, used in combination with other HIV drugs. Take with or without food.

Epzicom

generic name: abacavir and lamivudine maker: ViiV Healthcare

traditional dosage: One tablet once a day, used in combination with other HIV drugs. Each table contains 600mg abacavir and 300mg lamivudine. Take with or without food.

Temixys

generic name: lamivudine and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate maker: Celltrion

traditional dosage: One tablet once a day, used in combination with other HIV drugs. Each tablet contains 300 mg tenofovir disoproxil fumarate and 300 mg lamivudine. Take with or without food.

Truvada

generic name: emtricitabine and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate maker: Gilead Sciences

for hiv treatment: One tablet once daily, used in combination with other HIV drugs. Each tablet contains 300 mg tenofovir disoproxil fumarate and 200 mg emtricitabine.Lower dose versions also available. Take with or without food.

for hiv prevention: One tablet once daily. Safer sex practices recommended for greatest preventative results. Take with or without food.

Viread

generic name: tenofovir disoproxil fumarate maker: Gilead Sciences

traditional dosage: One 300 mg tablet once daily, used in combination with other HIV drugs. Lower dose versions also available. Take with or without food.

Ziagen

generic name: abacavir maker: ViiV Healthcare

traditional dosage: One 300mg tablet daily, used in combination with other HIV drugs.Lower dose versions available. Take with or without food.

NNRTIS

Non-Nucleoside Reverse

Transcriptase Inhibitors

Edurant

generic name: rilpivirine maker: Janssen

traditional dosage: One 25mg tablet once a day, used in combination with other HIV drugs. It is also a component in single-tablet regimens Complera, Odefsey, and Juluca. Take with food.

Intelence

generic name: etravirine maker: Janssen

dosage: One 200 mg tablet (or two 100 mg tablets) twice daily, used in combination with other HIV drugs. It is approved for treatmentexperienced patients who have HIV strains that are resistant to other NNRTIs and/or other HIV drugs, but not for those starting treatment for the first time. Take with food.

Pifeltro

generic name: doravirine maker: Merck

traditional dosage: One 100mg tablet once a day, used in combination with other HIV drugs. For adults taking the antibiotic rifabutin, the dose is one 100mg tablet every 12 hours. Take with or without food.

Sustiva

generic name: efavirenz

maker: Bristol-Myers Squibb

traditional dosage: One 600mg tablet once a day, or three 200mg capsules daily, used in combination with other HIV drugs. It is also a component in the single-tablet regimen Atripla. Take on an empty stomach.

ENTRY INHIBITORS

Rukobia

generic name: fostemsavir maker: ViiV Healthcare

traditional dosage: One 600 mg tablet taken twice daily, used in combination with other HIV drugs. It targets a particular point of the viral lifecycle and may be an option for indiviuals who have become resistant to other HIV drugs. Take with or without food.

Selzentry

generic name: maraviroc maker: ViiV Healthcare

traditional dosage: One 150mg, 300mg, or 600mg tablet twice a day, depending on other medications used. Approved for treatment-experienced people with HIV strains that are resistant to multiple antiretroviral drugs and for people with drug-sensitive HIV strains. Take with or without food.

Trogarzo

generic name: ibalizumab maker: Theratechnologies

traditional dosage: Administered as an injection, with an initial loading dose of 2,000 mg followed by a maintenance dose of 800 mg every two weeks. Trogarzo was developed specifically for people living with HIV whose virus is resistant to currently approved antiretrovirals. Used in combination with other HIV drugs.

PROTEASE INHIBITORS

Evotaz

generic name: atazanavir and cobicistat

maker: Bristol-Myers Squibb

traditional dosage: One tablet once daily, used in combination with other antiretroviral drugs. Each tablet contains 300 mg Reyataz (atazanavir) and 150 mg Tybost (cobicistat). Take with food.

Kaletra

generic name: lopinavir and ritonavir maker: AbbVie

traditional dosage: Two tablets twice a day, or four tablets once a day, depending on drug resistance. Each tablet contains 200 mg lopinvir and 50 mg Norvir (ritonavir). Used in combination with other HIV drugs. Also available as an oral solution. Take with or without food.

Prezcobix

generic name: darunavir and cobicistat maker: Janssen

traditional dosage: One tablet once a day. Each tablet contains 800 mg Prezista (darunavir) and 150 mg Tybost (cobicistat). Used in combination with other HIV drugs. Take with food.

Prezista

generic name: darunavir maker: Janssen

traditional dosage: One 800 mg tablet (or two 400 mg tablets) plus one 100 mg Norvir tablet once a day, or one 600 mg tablet plus one 100 mg Norvir tablet twice a day, depending on evidence of drug resistance. Used in combination with other HIV drugs. Take with food.

Reyataz

generic name: atazanavir

maker: Bristol-Myers Squibb

traditional dosage: Two 200 mg capsules once a day, or one 300 mg capsule plus one 100 mg Norvir tablet once a day. Used in combination with other HIV drugs. Take with food.

INTEGRASE INHIBITORS

Isentress

generic name: raltegravir

maker: Merck

traditional dosage: Two 600 mg tablets once a day for those who are new to treatment or whose HIV has been suppressed on an initial regimen. One 400 mg tablet twice a day for treatment-experienced people who have HIV strains that are resistant to multiple antiretroviral drugs. Take with or without food.

Tivicay

generic name: dolutegravir

maker: ViiV Healthcare

traditional dosage: One 50 mg tablet once a day for those starting antiretroviral therapy for the first time, or for those who have not used an integrase inhibitor before. One 50 mg tablet twice a day for treatmentexperienced individuals who have HIV that is resistant to other integrase inhibitors. Take with or without food.

Vocabria

generic name: cabotegravir

maker: ViiV Healthcare

traditional dosage: One 30mg tablet with one 25mg Endurant (rilpivirine) tablet, once daily. Typically prescribed as an oral lead-in regimen one month prior to switching to Cabenuva injections. Take with food.

PK BOOSTERS

Norvir

generic name: cobicistat maker: Gilead Sciences

traditional dosage: Six 100 mg tablets twice a day, however the full dose of Norvir is rarely used. Though approved as a protease inhibitor, it’s typically subscribed at lower doses to boost the levels of other antiretrovirals in the blood. Used in combination with other HIV drugs.

Tybost

generic name: cobicistat maker: Gilead Sciences

traditional dosage: 150 mg once a day, in combination with other HIV drugs. Tybost is used to boost the blood levels of select HIV medications to make them more effective. Take with food.

CAPSID INHIBITOR

Sunlenca

generic name: lenacapavir maker: Gilead Sciences

traditional dosage: Sunlenca is a long-acting injectable HIV medication taken every six months for heavily treatment-experienced adults with multidrug-resistant HIV. Used in combination with other HIV drugs.

PREP INJECTABLE

Apretude

generic name: cabotegravir maker: Gilead Sciences

traditional dosage: Apretude is currently the only long-term injectable available to prevent the transmission of HIV. It’s given as a monthly injection for the first 2 months, then every two months thereafter.

UNDERSTANDING HIV DRUG CLASSES AND HOW THEY WORK...

COMPLETE REGIMENS

Drugs in this category are typically single-pill regimens that combine multiple anti-HIV medications (often from mbore than drug class) and are usually taken just once a day. They do not need to be taken with other HIV medications. There is now a long-acting injectable available, Cabenuva, which can be adminstered monthly or every two months.

NUCLEOSIDE REVERSE TRANSCRIPTASE INHIBITORS

(also called NRTIs or “nukes”)

Drugs in this class block reverse transcriptase, an enzyme that HIV needs in order to reproduce. HIV uses reverse transcriptase to convert its RNA into DNA; blocking this process prevents HIV from replicating. They are always taken with at least one other HIV med.

NONNUCLEOSIDE REVERSE TRANSCRIPTASE INHIBITORS

(also called NNRTIs or “non-nukes”)

Drugs in this class also block reverse transcriptase just as NRTIs do, but in a different way. They are always taken with at least one other HIV medication.

ENTRY INHIBITORS

These drugs help block HIV from binding, fusing, and entering T cells. They are always taken with other HIV medication.

PROTEASE INHIBITORS

Drugs in this class block the activation of protease, an enzyme HIV needs to develop. Blocking protease prevents immature forms of HIV from becoming a mature virus capable of infecting other T cells. They are always taken with other HIV medication.

INTEGRASE STRAND TRANSFER INHIBITORS (also called INSTIs)

Drugs in this class block integrase, an enzyme HIV needs in order to reproduce. HIV uses integrase to insert its viral DNA into the DNA of T cells. Blocking this integration process prevents HIV from replicating. They are always taken with other HIV medication.

PHARMACOKINETIC ENHANCERS (also known as PK boosters)

These drugs help boost the effectiveness of antiretroviral medication. When the two are taken together, the pharmacokinetic enhancer slows the breakdown of the other drug, which allows the drug to remain in the body longer at a higher concentration. They are always taken with other HIV medication.

CAPSID INHIBITORS

Meds in this class help inhibit the proteins that protect HIV’s genetic material. Gilead Sciences’ injectable Sunlenca (lenacapavir) is currently the only approved capsid inhibitor-based HIV treatment option. Taken in combination with other antiretrovirals, lenacapavir is prescribed for adults with multi-drug resistant HIV.

SURE SHOTS

The advent of long-acting injectables for treatment and prevention is giving new freedom to people living with HIV — and their sexual partners.

BY DESIRÉE GUERRERO

CABENUVA

For HIV Treatment

In 2021, the Food and Drug Administration approved the first ever long-acting injectable for the treatment of HIV. Cabenuva, from ViiV Healthcare, has been a gamechanger for many living with HIV, especially those struggling with taking daily pills. Depending on your personal treatment plan, Cabenuva can be given in monthly doses or every two months. If you are able to do the every-two-month option, you’ll need to get a monthly shot for the first two months only. Cabenuva is a combination of cabotegravir and rilpivirine, so it’s not recommended for those who’ve had a history of treatment failure, resistance, or an allergic reaction to either ingredient. Cabenuva is also not recommended for those with a history of liver problems. Your health care provider can test the health of your liver before getting on Cabenuva if you are unsure.

SUNLECA

For HIV Drug Resistence

Another injectable for HIV treatment, Sunlenca (lenacapavir) from Gilead Sciences, was approved in December of 2022 to help those dealing with multi-drug resistance. Unlike Cabenuva, which is a complete HIV treatment regimen, Sunlenca is an injectable given twice a year in addition to other antiretroviral medications. It was created for adults whose HIV is not adequately controlled by their current treatment regimen.

APRETUDE

For HIV Prevention

Apretude (cabotegravir extendedrelease injectable suspension, or CAB LA) is the most recent form of PrEP approved by the Food and Drug Administration. It is revoluntionary in that it is an injectable, which makes it a much more attractive option to those at risk of contracting HIV. For many, stopping by the clinic every couple of months for a shot in the booty may be a lot more convenient than trying to remember a daily pill. Unlike the pill forms of PrEP (see page 23), Apretude is not also used to treat HIV but is solely used for HIV prevention.

BE PREPARED

These

days, it’s

easier than ever to prevent the spread of HIV. PrEP can be taken as a daily pill, or as an injection every two months.

Apretude

Apretude (cabotegravir extendedrelease injectable suspension, or CAB LA) is the most recent form of PrEP approved by the Food and Drug Administration. It is game-changing in that it is an injectable, which makes it a much more attractive option to those at risk of contracting HIV. For many, stopping by the clinic every couple of months for an injection may be a lot more convenient than trying to remember to take a daily pill. Unlike the pill forms of PrEP, Apretude is not also used to treat HIV. who’s it for? HIV-negative adults and adolescents weighing at least 77 pounds (35 kg) for the prevention of HIV.

dosage info: One long-acting intramuscular gluteal (butt muscle) 600 mg injection (3 mL) is given monthly for the first two months, and then one injection every two months thereafter. There are no food restrictions, and an oral lead-in period is no longer required.

Descovy for PrEP

In October of 2019, a second pill form of PrEP was approved by the FDA called Descovy for PrEP (emtricitabine and tenofovir alafenamide). It is just as effective as its predecessor, Truvada. There are some differences though, so you should talk to your doctor about which might work better for you. For example, Descovy is safer for people with bone density or

kidney issues, and the pill is much smaller — however, it may slightly raise LDL cholesterol levels. Also, unlike Truvada and Apretude, Descovy is not currently approved for those assigned female at birth due to a lack of research in its effectiveness. who’s it for? HIV-negative adults and adolescents assigned male at birth weighing at least 77 pounds (35 kg) for the prevention of HIV.

dosage info: One tablet once daily, with or without food. The tablet contains 200 mg emtricitabine and 25 mg tenofovir alafenamide. Take a missed dose as soon as possible, unless it is closer to the time of your next dose. Don’t double up on your next dose.

Truvada for PrEP

Truvada, our great PrEP pioneer, is now celebrating its 12th year of FDAapproval. It was the first medicine available in the U.S. for use to prevent HIV transmission after it was shown in studies to be highly effective when taken daily. Truvada consists of the drugs emtricitabine and tenofovir disoproxil fumerate.

who’s it for? HIV-negative adults and adolescents weighing at least 77 pounds (35 kg). People with bone density or kidney issues should avoid and consider another PrEP option. dosage info: One tablet daily with food. The tablet contains 200 mg emtricitabine and 300 mg tenofovir disoproxil fumarate. Take a missed dose as soon as possible, unless it is closer to the time of your next dose. Don’t double up on your next dose. Take with or without food. dg

For more information about PrEP and how to get a prescription, visit PlannedParenthood.org, HIV.gov, or CDC.gov/hiv/basics/prep

KEEPIN’ IT CLASSY

The artistry of drag and classical music collide at this very special ViiV-sponsored event at London Pride.

While drag fans certainly enjoy watching their faves perform sickening lip-syncs and death drops on stage, many queens have talents that extend beyond the club. Some of these artists got a chance to show off their more refined skills at Classical Pride, a five-day festival that took place during London’s 2024 Pride season.

At a special one-of-a-kind performance called “Classical Drag,” Drag Race alums Monét X Change, a trained opera singer, and Thorgy Thor, a professional classical violinist, treated festivalgoers to some truly unforgettable performances. And they still got to slay the runway!

Many of London’s top tier talents also attended and performed, including Vinegar Strokes, Beau Jangles, Barbs, Freddie Love, Snow White Trash, Jonny Woo, and Nicky Spence.

The evening was accompanied by a live orchestra made up of exceptional LGBTQ+ talent and was conducted by the acclaimed Oliver Zeffman, founder and artistic director of Classical Pride. The event’s headline sponsors this year were UK-based LGBTQ+ publication Gay Times and ViiV Healthcare, the makers of many of today’s most effective medications for the treatment and prevention of HIV.

For more info, visit classicalpride.uk.

Jonny Woo

Nicky Spence

Thorgy Thor

Snow White Trash

Freddie Love

Monét X Change

Starting + Staying

By starting HIV treatment as soon as possible after diagnosis and staying on treatment as prescribed, you can help control your HIV viral load, which can help you live a longer and healthier life. Today’s HIV treatments can fit into your schedule, and some can even be started right away. So be sure to talk to your healthcare provider about what’s right for you.

And remember, you are not alone. There are many people to help support you, alongside your healthcare provider.

Work together with your healthcare provider to find an HIV treatment option that is right for you and start your treatment journey today.

Model portrayal

Model portrayal