Essential Medicines News

Lawrence Altman, “Tests of Drug to Block H.I.V. Infection Are Halted Over Safety” New York Times,  1 February 2007.

The microbicide trials involved a chemical, cellulose sulfate or Ushercell. One of the latest trials found an increased risk of H.I.V. infection among women who used cellulose sulfate compared with those who used a placebo gel. The decision to stop the trials stemmed from a study that involved 1,333 participants in Benin, South Africa and Uganda which found more new H.I.V. infections among those who used cellulose sulfate than among those who used an inactive gel.

“So, given the adverse findings in the Conrad trial, “the responsible course of action was to halt our study” also, said Dr. Vera Halpern, the principal investigator of the Family Health International trial.”

The new findings were surprising because smaller trials conducted since 1999 showed that cellulose sulfate was safe and the chemical was active against H.I.V. in laboratory tests.