Microbicide gel reduces risk of HIV infection in women

The Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa announced the ground-breaking results of a clinical trial of a new microbicidal vaginal gel at the XVIII International AIDS Conference in Vienna. The efficacy trial provides evidence that the antiretroviral-based microbicides can reduce the risk of sexual transmission of HIV and genital herpes in women by up to 50%. This could translate into preventing over half a million new HIV infections over the next ten years in South Africa alone.

The microbicide, which contains 1% tenofovir, an antiretroviral agent that is frequently used for therapeutic proposes, is the first antiretroviral-based microbicide that has been proven to prevent HIV infection in a clinical trial setting.

by Srimathy Sriskantharajah

Source:

http://www.scientificamerican.com/media/inline/blog/Image/hiv_vaginal_gel.jpg

For more information:

http://blogs.openaccesscentral.com/blogs/bmcblog/entry/microbicide_gel_reduces_risk_of