France has become the first country outside of the United States to approve use of Truvada (tenofovir/emtricitabine) as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to prevent HIV infection, aidsmap reports. PrEP will become available in France in mid-December and will be covered by the country’s health system starting in January.

Truvada received a Recommendation of Temporary Use, a designation that in France allows the use of drugs already approved for one purpose—in this case, HIV treatment—to be used for another on an off-label basis.

PrEP, according to the French minister of health, Marisol Touraine, will be made available “to individuals who cannot, for diverse reasons, use condoms systematically and who belong to groups where HIV incidence is very high.”

Only HIV specialists at hospital clinics or HIV testing sites will be able to prescribe PrEP. Counseling and follow-up is a part of the package.

To read the aidsmap article, click here.