An old antibiotic finds new life as STD prevention pill

The antibiotic doxycycline is being repurposed as a 'morning after' pill to help prevent three common STIs. — AFP

The United States is set to roll out a powerful new weapon in the long fight against sexually-transmitted infections (STIs): a decades-old antibiotic repurposed as a preventative pill.

DoxyPEP, or doxycycline used as a post-exposure prophylaxis, has been found to significantly cut the risk of chlamydia, gonorrhoea and syphilis when used after condomless sex.