💾 Archived View for gmi.noulin.net › mobileNews › 1686.gmi captured on 2023-09-08 at 18:44:46. Gemini links have been rewritten to link to archived content
⬅️ Previous capture (2023-01-29)
-=-=-=-=-=-=-
2009-12-14 07:47:20
A major trial of a vaginal microbicide has produced no evidence that its use
reduces the risk of HIV infection in women.
The gel, PRO 2000, is intended for use before sexual intercourse to help reduce
HIV infection.
It was tested in a trial involving 9,385 women in four African countries.
The risk of HIV infection was not significantly different among women supplied
with the gel than in women given a placebo gel.
It was hoped microbicide gels would prove to be an effective way to limit the
spread of HIV, as experts admit that condom promotion alone has not controlled
the epidemic.
New ways of curbing the spread of HIV are badly needed, particularly in
sub-Saharan Africa, where nearly 60% of those infected with the virus are
women.
Women are often forced to take part in unsafe sex, and are biologically more
vulnerable to HIV infection than men - so in theory a gel they could apply
themselves could be effective.
A previous, smaller trial suggested PRO 2000 could reduce the risk of HIV
infection by 30%.
But the latest study, carried out by the Microbicides Development Programme, a
not-for-profit partnership of 16 African and European research institutions,
failed to find any positive effect.
And the researchers say the trial was large enough to provide conclusive
results.
The women who took part were given the gel together with free condoms and
access to counselling about safe sex.
Important result
Lead researcher Dr Sheena McCormack, of the Medical Research Council, which
part-funded the study, said: "This result is disheartening.
"Nevertheless, we know this is an important result and it shows clearly the
need to undertake trials which are large enough to provide definitive evidence
for whether or not a product works."
Professor Jonathan Weber, from Imperial College London, who also took part in
the study, said: "It is unfortunate that this microbicide is ineffective at
preventing HIV infection, but it's still vital for us as scientists to continue
to look for new ways of preventing HIV.
"Now that we know this microbicide is not the answer, we can concentrate on
other treatments that might be."