In other December , 50 LGBTQ - affliated groups such as GLAADissuedan open varsity letter to Facebook asking them to absent the ads , after more tranquil seek to convince the societal medium giant to do so had failed . The advertising , which had been circulate for months , were place by several legal firms looking to tap clients for likely class legal action lawsuits against the manufacturer of Truvada , the first drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration for pre - exposure prophylaxis ( PrEP ) of the HIV-1 computer virus ( a second PrEP drug wasapprovedthis October ) .
At least one website the advertising led consumers to claimed that Truvada “ could cause an increase risk of bone density problem and kidney loser . ” But these sorts of claim , the letter andother expertshave argued , are for the most part inaccurate or misrepresentative of the scientific evidence .
https://gizmodo.com/company-that-profits-off-political-misinformation-says-1839236544
Taken daily, Truvada can greatly reduce the chances of someone contracting HIV.Photo: Getty
Some studies have unite a small increase risk of kidney and bone damage to one of the two drugs used in Truvada , called tenofovir disoproxil . But these studies have regard people taking tenofovir as a discourse for their existing HIV contagion , not as a preventive medicament .
Other study looking at PrEP users specifically have found little to no evidence for these effects . Yet despite the lack of any real proof , the ads were already start to frighten away mass away from trying out PrEP , agree to the missive .
On Monday , the Washington Postreportedconfirmation from Facebook that it was set off to pull down Truvada - relate ads .
“ After a review , our independent fact - check spouse have determined some of the ads in doubt misdirect people about the effects of Truvada , ” Facebook spokeswoman Devon Kearns told the Post . “ As a result we have rejected these ads and they can no longer run on Facebook . ”
While critics volunteer some praise to Facebook for following through , they also pointed out that many more similar ads still remain up . And given how long it take for Facebook to react to their months of objection , they ’re not too expecting . this to stop the spread of misinformation surrounding preparation anytime soon .
“ If this is their prescribed reception , after ignoring us for months , then it ’s a kettle of fish , ” Peter Staley , a long - prison term HIV / AIDS activist and one of the co - founders of thePrEP4All Collaboration , a organization aiming to dilute down the monetary value of homework , assure the Post .
DrugsFacebookHIV / AIDSScience
Daily Newsletter
Get the sound tech , science , and culture intelligence in your inbox day by day .
newsworthiness from the future , delivered to your nowadays .