Background
Researchers at the BC Centre for Disease Control are looking for men to take part in a study looking at syphilis Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), a daily pill in the form of doxycycline that may help prevent syphilis infection. Syphilis rates have reached epidemic levels and the majority of those affected are men who have sex with men (MSM). Add to that the burden of HIV, which also significantly affects MSM, and it becomes clear that we need to look for new strategies that help prevent these diseases.
HIV PrEP, in the form of daily Truvada, is already widely used to prevent HIV, but there is evidence to suggest that taking doxycycline daily could help prevent men from getting syphilis. Doxycycline is a commonly used antibiotic that has been taken over the long-term to prevent things like acne and malaria and is very well tolerated.
Help us recruit!
We are looking for sexually active, HIV-negative MSM who have had a previous syphilis infection in the past three years to take part in our study. The Dual Daily HIV and Syphilis PrEP project (DuDHS Trial) will test the feasibility of using both HIV (Truvada) and syphilis (doxycycline) PrEP together.
Participants will be provided with a full year’s supply of HIV PrEP and receive either six or 12 months of syphilis PrEP. Participants will be asked to visit BCCDC roughly every three months for follow-up.
For more information
If you have clients that are eligible and may be interested in taking part, or would like to receive some more information, please refer them to the Study Coordinator, James Connell.
You can also download the study poster below (under Additional Resources) and feature in your clinic or organization. The poster is formatted to print on 11×17 sized paper.
Principal Investigators: Drs. Mark Hull (BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS) and Troy Grennan (BC Centre for Disease Control).