Vaginal gel prevents HIV infection among women in clinical trials
February 10th, 2009 - 4:55 pm ICT by IANSWashington, Feb 10 (IANS) A vaginal gel to prevent HIV infection has shown encouraging results in a clinical trial conducted on women in Africa and the US.
Findings of the recently concluded study, funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the NIH, were presented at the Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections underway in Montreal.
Investigators found microbicide gel PRO 2000 safe and approximately 30 percent effective, as gel, foam or cream, which when applied to vaginal or anal orifice, may prevent male-to-female sexual transmission of HIV infection.
“Although more data are needed to conclusively determine whether PRO 2000 protects women from HIV infection, the results of this study are encouraging,” said NIAID director Anthony S. Fauci.
The Phase II/IIb clinical trial, which enrolled more than 3,000 women, is NIH’s first large clinical study of a microbicide.
“The study, while not conclusive, provides a glimmer of hope to millions of women at risk for HIV, especially young women in Africa,” added lead investigator Salim S.A. Karim, from the Centre for the AIDS Program of Research in South Africa.
“It provides the first signal that a microbicide gel may be able to protect women from HIV infection,” he said.
Currently, women make up half of all people worldwide living with HIV. In sub-Saharan Africa, women represent nearly 60 percent of adults living with HIV, and in several southern African countries young women are at least three times more likely to be HIV-positive than young men, said an NIAID release.
A separate clinical study sponsored by the Medical Research Council (MRC) and the Department for International Development of Britain that is currently testing PRO 2000 (0.5 percent dose) in preventing HIV infection among women in Africa could provide further insight into the microbicide’s effectiveness.
That Phase III study involving nearly 9,400 women is set to conclude in August 2009.
- Anti-HIV gel shows promise in Aids prevention - Feb 10, 2009
- Anti-HIV vaginal gel deemed safe for rectal use too - Mar 01, 2011
- AIDS virus prevention gel fails during trials in Africa - Dec 15, 2009
- Vaginal gel halves women's chance of getting AIDS - Jul 20, 2010
- Vaginal gel 'can cut HIV risk by 39pct in women' - Jul 20, 2010
- Microbicide trial results signal end of one chapter, focus turns to promising ARV-based candidates - Dec 14, 2009
- Finally, anti-HIV microbicides research gives hope - Feb 25, 2009
- Microbicide gel offers promising HIV prevention method for women - Mar 06, 2009
- A Vaginal Gel Represents A Breakthrough In The War Against AIDS - Jul 20, 2010
- Washing vagina with soap 'ups risk of HIV infection' - Feb 16, 2011
- Female-to-male HIV transmission risk doubles during pregnancy: Study - May 24, 2010
- Anti-HIV microbicide ineffective, trials show - Dec 14, 2009
- Not just a handmaiden: Critical role of social science in HIV Prevention Research - May 25, 2010
- A new gel may prevent the HIV/AIDS infection in women - Jul 20, 2010
- 6-month drug regimen 'reduces HIV risk for breastfeeding infants' - Mar 03, 2011
Tags: africa women, aids program, conference on retroviruses, conference on retroviruses and opportunistic infections, director anthony, glimmer of hope, hiv infection, infectious diseases, least three times, living with hiv, medical research council, national institute of allergy and infectious diseases, niaid director, sexual transmission, southern african countries, sub saharan africa, transmission of hiv, vaginal gel, women at risk, women in africa