Essential Medicines News

“Trial Shows Anti-HIV Microbicide Is Safe, but Does Not Prove It Effective,” Population Council Press Release, 18 February 2008.

Initial results from trials in South African women with the microbicide, Carraguard, to prevent the transmission of HIV show no significant difference between the study and control groups. Nevertheless, researchers still hope that the gel might be combined with other drugs to improve its efficacy and the trial itself was important in revealing other issues at play. Peter Donaldson, president of the Population Council, states:

We are disappointed that this trial did not show Carraguard to be effective; nonetheless the completion of this trial is a milestone in HIV prevention research. The trial has contributed significantly to the field’s body of knowledge regarding product development, trial design, and women’s and their partners’ willingness to use a vaginal gel consistently.

Links to popular press articles:
“Cream to Prevent HIV safe, but not effective:study” Reuters, 18 February 2008.

“Anti-HIV gel fails key trial in S. African women” Associated Press, 18 February 2008.