Promising anti-HIV gel in large-scale study in women

摘要

The results of a Phase II/IIb clinical trail was presented at the Conference of Retrovirus and Opportunistic Infections (Montreal) early this year and is the first large-scale clinical study of its kind. Study investigators introduced us to a 30% effective microbicide gel known as PRO 2000 (Indevus Pharmaceuticals), tested in over 3000 women from Africa and the USA. Current data identifies half of the global HIV-population as women. Young women are at least three times more likely to be HIV-positive in several southern African countries than young men and infection is believed to be predominantly due to sexual intercourse with an infected male partner. NIAID Director Anthony Fauci explains, "An effective microbicide would be a valuable tool that women could use to protect themselves against HIV and one that could substantially reduce the number of new HIV infections worldwide."