AIDS virus "prevention" gel fails in African trials
Gaylord Merryweather
LONDON (Reuters) - A gel made by U.S. drug firm Endo Pharmaceuticals
that is designed to prevent infection with the AIDS virus has proved
ineffective in trials in Africa, Britain's Medical Research Council said
on Monday.
Health
A large international trial of the vaginal microbicide, Pro 2000, in
more than 9,000 women in four African countries found no evidence that
it reduces the risk of HIV infection.
To date no gel microbicide has been shown to be effective against HIV
infection and this trial showed conclusively that PRO 2000 gel was of no
added benefit, ending scientific speculation about its clinical
importance, the MRC said in a statement.
"This result is disheartening, particularly in light of the results of a
smaller trial sponsored by the US National Institutes of Health (NIH)
which suggested that PRO 2000 could reduce the risk of HIV infection by
30 per cent," said Sheena McCormack of the Medical Research Council, who
led the trial.
"Nevertheless we know this is an important result and it shows clearly
the need to undertake trials which are large enough to provide
definitive evidence for whether or not a product works."
The MRC's trial was the largest international clinical trial to date
into a preventative HIV gel. It took place between September 2005 and
September 2009 involved 9,385 women and was carried out by the
Microbicides Development Programme (MDP), a not-for-profit partnership
of 16 African and European research institutions.
The trial found that the risk of HIV infection in women who were given
PRO 2000 gel was not significantly different than in women supplied with
a placebo gel.
Jonathan Weber of the MDP said the result was disappointing but added:
"The trial itself was very well designed and undertaken, so we know that
the results are definitive.
"It is unfortunate that this microbicide is ineffective at preventing
HIV infection but it's still vital for us as scientists to continue to
look for new ways of preventing HIV," he said in a statement.
Dänk 1010011010
<gaylordmerryweat...@hushmail.com> wrote:
> The trial found that the risk of HIV infection in women who were given
> PRO 2000 gel was not significantly different than in women supplied with
> a placebo gel.
>
> Jonathan Weber of the MDP said the result was disappointing but added:
> "The trial itself was very well designed and undertaken, so we know that
> the results are definitive.
>
> "It is unfortunate that this microbicide is ineffective at preventing
> HIV infection but it's still vital for us as scientists to continue to
> look for new ways of preventing HIV," he said in a statement.
What is not mentioned is how many billions of U.S. tax dollars were
used to subsidize the development of the failed microbicide gel.
- - - - - - - - - -
http://www.the-scientist.com/article/display/22293/
HIV microbicide by 2010?
16 July 2004
"BANGKOK -- Researchers need $750 million in additional funding to
develop an effective vaginal microbicide that will reduce women's high
risk of infection from unprotected sex, experts said at the
International AIDS Conference, which closes here today."
parismom
wouldn't have the aids epidemic if people didn't have sex with out
protection! i don't feel sorry for any western civilized person who
has aids due to unprotected sex. these poor third worlders are
prisoners of their religions and cultures and that's something we
can't help. it's a pity.
On Dec 17, 12:20 am, Dänk 1010011010 <dank...@rocketmail.com> wrote:
> On Dec 15, 12:32 am, Gaylord Merryweather
>
> <gaylordmerryweat...@hushmail.com> wrote:
> > The trial found that the risk of HIV infection in women who were given
> > PRO 2000 gel was not significantly different than in women supplied with
> > a placebo gel.
>
> > Jonathan Weber of the MDP said the result was disappointing but added:
> > "The trial itself was very well designed and undertaken, so we know that
> > the results are definitive.
>
> > "It is unfortunate that this microbicide is ineffective at preventing
> > HIV infection but it's still vital for us as scientists to continue to
> > look for new ways of preventing HIV," he said in a statement.
>
> What is not mentioned is how many billions of U.S. tax dollars were
> used to subsidize the development of the failed microbicide gel.
>
> - - - - - - - - - -http://www.the-scientist.com/article/display/22293/