An investigational vaginal gel intended to prevent HIV infection in women has demonstrated encouraging signs of success in a clinical trial conducted in Africa and the United States. Findings of the recently concluded study, funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the NIH, were presented today at the Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections in Montreal.
The study investigators found the microbicide gel-known as PRO 2000 (Indevus Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Lexington, Mass.)-to be safe and approximately 30 percent effective (33 percent effectiveness would have been considered statistically significant). This is the first human clinical study to suggest that a microbicide-a gel, foam or cream intended to prevent the sexual transmission of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections when applied topically inside the vagina or rectum-may prevent male-to-female sexual transmission of HIV infection.
Doctor Abdool Karim, lead clinician in the study, answered the questions Scientist Live's readers asked. Listen to him introduce the HPTN 035 microbicide gel study.
1. The news release regarding the HPTN 035 trial does not specify specifically what the microbicide comprised of. Can you go clarify what PRO 2000 actually is? (Robert S., London,, England)
2. Nonoxynol-9 ended up increasing HIV infection, despite years of promotion by the scientific community as a means of hampering HIV infection. What is to say that PRO 2000 or BufferGel won't have similar effects? (Spencer R., Cardiff, Wales)
3. Is the microbicide also effective as a spermicide? (Bettina R., Berlin, Germany)
4. Obviously, the gel is meant to be applied prior to sexual intercourse. Is it effective is applied after? (Claude L., Aix-en-Provence, France)
5. If a person applies twice as much gel, does PRO 2000 offer double the protection? (Carmen C., Perugia, Italy)
6. If, hypothetically, PRO 2000 or BufferGel turns out to be effective and safe. How will it be dispensed? Will it be applied to condoms the way nonoxynol-9 was? (Sanjay P., New York, USA)
7. Importance of giving women the opportunity to take precautions during sexual intercourse is very important and empowering in the fight against AIDS. Can you detail why? (Pem W., Chichester, England)
