February 25, 2008

Rectal Microbicide Sees Positive Results in Trial

According to data unveiled at the 2008 Microbicide Conference in New Delhi today, the future finally looks bright for rectal microbicide gels as an effective way of preventing transmission of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases, Aidsmap reports (Aidsmap.com, 2/25).

Preliminary data from the "U19" rectal microbicide program showed that the gel—which contains the non-nucleoside HIV drug UC-781—showed little signs of toxicity in human volunteers. According to Aidsmap, the U19 program also utilized an "in vivo–ex vivo" HIV infection model to monitor the efficacy of the gel in HIV prevention through application in cellular explants—small pieces of tissue kept alive in a nutrient medium—which were infected with two doses of the virus. The second dose contained 100 times more virus than the first.

After three weeks, explants grown from biopsies taken after gel application were shown to resist infection when exposed to the higher dose of HIV, suggesting that UC-781 may one day be utilized as a viable anal sex HIV prevention tool.

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Previous Comments:

Leon Anderson, Los Angeles, 2008-03-05 16:43:12
Tony! Regarding advocacy of no anal sex. Might as well expect bees not to make honey. Interesting article. Just wonder if "one" more possible seroconversion, down the line, is worth the risk.

Michael, New York, 2008-02-27 17:07:48
I hope this works. Condoms do, and yet so few men use them. Look at the frighteningly high infection rate lately. People who urge abstinence just don't understand human nature.

KEESHA BAILEY, SEATTLE, 2008-02-26 20:38:52
I THINK THAT IF THEY CAN CONTINUE TESTING THE SPERMICIDE AND IT DOES WORK THEN WHY NOT CONTINUE WITH THE PROJECT. GOOD LUCK.

tony, , 2008-02-26 14:11:22
why not advocate the stopping of the act of anal sex instead of making it easier for people to do so.