A rectal microbicide gel containing HIV drug UC781 has been found to reduce infection when applied topically to rectal tissue that was then exposed to HIV in a lab, according to a study by researchers at the University of California at Los Angeles AIDS Institute and published in PLoS ONE. According to a UCLA Newsroom release, the Phase I clinical trial mainly set out to determine human safety but found that the drug significantly reduced HIV’s ability to infect treated tissues. The gel was also shown to be safe and acceptable to users.

To read the full UCLA news item, click here.

To read POZ’s recent feature story on rectal microbicides, click here.