Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics: A primer for HIV prevention advocates

Pharmacokinetics (PK) is the study of what happens to a drug when it is taken into the body; pharmacodynamics (PD) is the study of what happens to the body when a drug is taken. PK/PD research is a central aspect of the search for ARV-based prevention, and this factsheet is for advocates looking to understand some of the basic terms, aims and objectives of PK and PD studies.