de Tejada M, et al. - Researchers examined the influence of efavirenz (EFV) use during conception or first trimester (T1) of pregnancy on the occurrence of birth defects via analyzing seven observational studies of pregnant HIV-positive women across 13 European countries and Thailand. They analyzed 24,963 live births from 21,093 women identifying that birth defect prevalence after exposure to EFV-based antiretroviral therapy (ART) was not statistically different when compared with non–EFV-based ART in conception/T1, and even lower. This suggests at least equal safety profile of EFV to other ART drugs currently recommended for antenatal use.