What’s New in HIV Treatment and PrEP

Key Takeaways

As treatments in HIV treatment and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) advance rapidly, staying up to date with new treatment options and prevention strategies is essential for clinicians providing comprehensive care. This page highlights the latest innovations in HIV care and prevention as well as key CME/CE activities offered on FreeCME.

Evolving HIV Treatment

The field of HIV therapy has entered a new era, with guideline refinements, long-acting formulations, and a broader focus on comorbidities and patient-centered care. Recent CME offerings on FreeCME emphasize these updates.

Key areas of focus include early initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART), preference for integrase strand transfer inhibitor-based regimens, and the use of long-acting injectable therapies in patients for whom daily oral regimens pose challenges. Clinicians must also shift from simply achieving viral suppression to managing aging, comorbidities (such as cardiovascular disease and metabolic syndrome), and optimizing quality of life. Meanwhile, the selected CME modules on this page reflect these changes by integrating case-based learning, multidisciplinary team coordination, and rural/underserved-population contexts.

By participating in these courses, clinicians can enhance their ability to evaluate ART regimens (efficacy, safety, drug-drug interactions), individualize treatment based on patient-specific factors, and integrate monitoring for long-term outcomes beyond viral suppression.

Advancements in PrEP

PrEP continues to be a cornerstone of HIV prevention, and new research, formulations and implementation strategies are reshaping practice. FreeCME includes a two-part series titled Opening Doors to HIV PrEP: Practical Strategies for Expanding Access in Rural and Underserved Communities and Putting PrEP Into Practice: Case‑Based Solutions for HIV Prevention in Rural and Underserved Areas (both published in October 2025), which review new and existing PrEP formulations, evolving clinical evidence, and practical implementation in rural/underserved settings.

Meanwhile, the course “Shining a Light on the PCP’s Role in HIV Prevention” (also published in October 2025) targets primary care clinicians new to PrEP or seeking to broaden their prevention efforts.

Topics addressed include patient-risk assessment, initiation and monitoring of oral and long-acting injectable PrEP regimens, strategies to improve uptake and persistence (especially in rural or underserved populations), and integrating sexual-health conversations into general practice. By completing these CME activities, clinicians enhance their ability to identify eligible patients, counsel about adherence and persistence, and implement PrEP services effectively in varied clinical environments.

Why This Matters for Practice

For physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and pharmacists specializing in HIV care or prevention, staying current via targeted CME enhances patient outcomes and supports professional development. These courses support competency in the latest HIV treatment and prevention strategies, enabling providers to:

• Select and monitor optimal ART regimens in the context of patient comorbidities and long-term care needs;

• Understand and implement long-acting treatment options to overcome adherence barriers;

• Expand access to PrEP by integrating it into primary care and underserved settings, tailoring regimens to patient preferences and clinical context;

• Adopt a status-neutral approach (prevention and treatment) and embed sexual-health discussions into routine care; and

• Participate in multidisciplinary, team-based HIV management and build inclusive, stigma-sensitive care environments.

These themes align closely with the latest guidelines and educational standards, and the FreeCME courses referenced above allow you to earn CME/CE credits while enhancing practical clinical skills.

How to Get Started

1. Select a course from the FreeCME HIV catalogue (e.g., the courses cited above or below).
2. Review the learning objectives, faculty disclosures, and accreditation details.
3. Complete the online activity, post-test, or evaluation as required to earn credit.
4. Download your certificate and integrate new insights into your clinical practice.

Suggested HIV Courses on FreeCME

• Opening Doors to HIV PrEP: Practical Strategies for Expanding Access in Rural and Underserved Communities (1.5 credits)

• Putting PrEP Into Practice: Case-Based Solutions for HIV Prevention in Rural and Underserved Areas (1.5 credits)

• Bridging Gaps in HIV Care: Advancing Treatment in Rural and Underserved Communities (1.5 credits)

• Optimizing HIV Treatment: Improving Shared-Decision Making, Adherence, and Long-Term Monitoring (0.25 credits)

• Shining a Light on the PCP’s Role in HIV Prevention (1.25 credits)

HIV Care in the Future

As the HIV care continuum evolves in 2025 and beyond, clinicians should anticipate additional innovations, such as ultra-long-acting formulations, cure-related investigational therapies, and greater emphasis on health disparities and equity. Through ongoing education, you can remain aligned with best practices and deliver high-quality care across prevention and treatment spectra.