Pelosi Statement on FDA Approval of New Antiretroviral

Contact: Nadeam Elshami/Drew Hammill, 202-226-7616

Washington, D.C. – Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi released the following statement today after the Food and Drug Administration announced its approval of the use of a new antiretroviral treatment for HIV prevention:

“The FDA’s historic decision to approve use of an antiretroviral treatment for HIV prevention by individuals at high-risk of infection provides us with an effective new weapon in our fight against HIV/AIDS. We must employ each and every strategy that reduces the chances of acquiring HIV as part of a comprehensive approach to save lives in the United States and around the world. It’s a source of pride to me and my constituents that some of this groundbreaking research was conducted at San Francisco’s Gladstone Institutes.

“The fight against HIV/AIDS has been one of my top legislative priorities for 25 years, and I will continue working to ensure our nation invests in research and medical advances, stays focused on new treatments, care, prevention and early intervention, and expands housing opportunities and ends discrimination for people with HIV/AIDS.

“As the International AIDS Conference prepares to meet, we recommit to working toward the day when we can say that AIDS is nothing but a terrible, terrible memory.”

###