According to a new research from a health insurer, HIV preventative drug is proving to be effective against the virus, even when it comes to high-risk populations. HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) could lead to AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome).

According to Dr. Jonathan Volk, a physician and epidemiologist at Kaiser Permanente San Francisco Medical Center, "Our study is the first to extend the understanding of the use of PrEP in a real-world setting and suggests that the treatment may prevent new HIV infections even in a high-risk setting”. Volk added that so far, clinical trials and a demonstration project have come up with proof supporting the effectiveness of the drug to prevent HIV infection.

The research was published on Tuesday and was carried out by San Francisco-based health insurer Kaiser Permanente. It was found in the research that of many high-HIV-risk patients who were taking Truvada, none was infected by the virus over a nearly-three-year period, even when they got infected with other sexually transmitted diseases during that period. Truvada is a two-drug combination pill that has been created by the Foster City firm Gilead Sciences.

The pill reduced the risk of HIV infection in people, having high risk of the infection by up to 92%. Kaiser Permanente, a private health insurer is having its own affiliated medical centers, hospitals and pharmacies in eight states and the District of Columbia. The study was published in Clinical Infectious Diseases.