New Technology Prevents HIV Spead in Women
Microbicide Gel Stops Spread of HIV in Clincal Trial for Women
Feb 23, 2009
More than 3,000 women throughout southern Africa and the United States were involved in a clinical trial that, for the first time, showed promising results for a vaginal gel, known as a microbicide, to actually prevent HIV infections in women. Currently, women comprise half of the HIV infected population reported worldwide. In most cases, women become infected through sexual intercourse with a male partner. Microbicide gels are applied topically and seek to help prevent infection in women who do not have the power to negotiate condom use.
The findings, presented earlier this month at the Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections, declared that PRO 2000, a gel developed by Indevus Pharmaceuticals in Massachusetts, was 30 percent effective in stopping the spread of the deadly virus to women. During the course of the study, from February 2005 to September 2008, 3,009 women participated, and only 90 acquired HIV infections while using the microbicide gels BufferGel and PRO 2000.
"Indeed, for the millions of women at risk for HIV, especially young women in Africa, there is now a glimmer of hope," said Dr. Salim S. Abdool Karim, the director of the Center of the AIDS Program of Research in South Africa, who led the multi-center study.
Microbicides Will Arm Women with Prevention Method
Microbicide gel is among the first of HIV prevention technologies targeted specifically toward women. Marital rape accounts for a large percentage of HIV transmissions throughout the developing world, as men often do not know they are infected. (Worldwide, one out of seven married women is raped by their spouse, according to the Wesley Center for Women.) Researchers say that arming women with microbicide gels will help women to protect themselves. There is also much discussion among experts that microbicide gels can be used in brothels in India and throughout Asia, so that sex workers can take steps against spreading the disease to many partners.
In the U.S., more is being done to draw attention to the results of the trial and the next steps for research. Bethany Holt, the director of The California Microbicides Initiative (CaMI), said while the California initiative was not actively involved with the study, "these results are wonderful news and encourage us about the potential for microbicides."
Continuing the Dialogue
In an effort to keep the microbicide conversation alive, CaMI, which is a coalition of California health and educational organizations, biotech companies, and policymakers, are hosting an International Symposium on Advancing Prevention Technologies for Sexual and Reproductive Health in Berkeley, CA next month.
"The goal of this symposium is to accelerate the development of multi-purpose technologies that prevent pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections, and other common reproductive tract infections," Hold says.
While additional trials are needed to determine long-term safety and effectiveness, Holt says she is confident that microbicides are safe and will soon be extremely effective in preventing HIV infections among women in the U.S. and around the globe.
