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Announcement of the CAPRISA trial results marks a major breakthrough HIV prevention
Results of the CAPRISA 004 trial announced yesterday at the International AIDS Conference, showed a vaginal microbicidal gel containing the antiretroviral drug tenofovir (Viread) reduced the risk of HIV infection among women who received it by 39 per cent during a two-and-a-half-year study in South Africa.
Deborah Jack, Chief Executive of NAT (National AIDS Trust), comments;
“Yesterday’s announcement of the CAPRISA trial results marked a major breakthrough in the field of HIV prevention. For the first time a topical gel which can be applied vaginally before and after sex was shown to be effective in preventing HIV.
This microbicide gel contained antiretroviral drugs, which are normally used to treat HIV. These results are cause for double celebration because they have demonstrated that a gel can be used as a prevention method, and that antiretrovirals can be effective in preventing as well as treating HIV.
A priority now is to move to the next stage of research so that this initial good news can be translated into a reality for the millions of women round the world who desperately need a way to protect themselves from HIV.”