Promising anti-HIV gel set for more trials
By Our Staff Writer
6th Sept 2010
Two further clinical trials have been planned for a vaginal gel that has shown potential in reducing the risk of HIV transmission. If approved, it would be a major breakthrough in protecting women who make up half of the people living with the HIV virus worldwide.
The results of the first trial of the tenofovir-based gel which were announced in July at the XVIII International AIDS Conference in Vienna must be confirmed before the product can be made available for general use.
In a study completed by the Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa [CAPRISA], the gel was found to be 39% effective in reducing women’s risk of HIV infection during sexual intercourse. CAPRISA is a collaborative partner of the Joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS.
At a meeting convened last week in Johannesburg-South Africa by UNAIDS and the World Health Organization, experts proposed that further trials should determine whether different populations of women will have the same level of protection as seen in the CAPRISA trial.
The CAPRISA study was conducted in South Africa among women aged between 18 to 40 years. They used the gel once during the 12 hours before sex and once during the 12 hours after sex.
One of the next two studies will also take place in South Africa and determine if the CAPRISA results can be repeated in a variety of settings with a population that includes younger women. It will also evaluate whether the gel can be used safely by sexually active 16 to 17 year-olds in settings where HIV incidence is high.
The other study will be conducted in other African countries and it will examine if a different dosing schedule is safe and effective. It will also test if a single application of the gel before sex or immediately after is as effective as the original two-dose regimen.
While participants at the Johannesburg meeting agreed on research priorities, they expressed concerns over the limited funding committed for the next phase of the research. Only $58 million of the estimated $100 million needed is so far available. END. If it’s Monday, it’s Uganda Correspondent. Never miss out again!
