Gel Acts like Liquid Condom
Topical application in women shown to inhibit HIV and herpes infection
Betterhumans Staff
2/24/2005 4:25 PM
Credit: Uffe Fey
Disease prevention: Like condoms, a new topical microbicide gel for women helps prevent disease, but without the need for partner compliance that can hinder condom use
A gel that acts like a liquid condom to block sexually transmitted diseases has proven to inhibit HIV and herpes infection when used by women.
Researchers at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York say that the gel is the first to retain antiviral activity within the human vagina.
"There is an urgent need for the development of safe and effective vaginal microbicides," says Mount Sinai researcher Marla Keller. "While condoms offer protection against sexually transmitted infections, their effectiveness is limited because they require partner initiation or consent."
"Potent activity"
Called PRO 2000 and being developed by Indevus Pharmaceuticals, Inc. of Lexington, Massachusetts, the gel is part of a class of products aimed at preventing sexually transmitted infections when applied topically.
Funded by the US National Institutes of Health, Mount Sinai researchers examined its antiviral activity with the help of 20 HIV-infected women.
Examining vaginal fluid before and one hour after administration of PRO 2000 or a placebo, the researchers found that the gel reduced HIV and herpes simplex virus infectivity by at least 1,000-fold while the placebo had little effect.
"To our knowledge, this is the first time a candidate topical microbicide has been shown to exhibit potent antiviral activity following human administration," says Keller. "The results indicate that PRO 2000 is sufficiently bioavailable and retains substantial antiviral activity one hour after application of a single intravaginal dose. The retention of activity against both viruses is particularly significant in that HSV infection may increase the likelihood of HIV infection."
Large trials underway
Two large clinical trials now aim to assess the effectiveness of PRO 2000 in preventing HIV and other sexually transmitted infections.
One study will enroll about 3,200 women at nine sites in Africa and the US while another will include about 12,000 women in several African countries.
The research was reported in Boston at the 12th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections.
http://www.betterhumans.com/News/news.aspx?articleID=2005-02-24-3
Betterhumans Staff
2/24/2005 4:25 PM
Credit: Uffe Fey
Disease prevention: Like condoms, a new topical microbicide gel for women helps prevent disease, but without the need for partner compliance that can hinder condom use
A gel that acts like a liquid condom to block sexually transmitted diseases has proven to inhibit HIV and herpes infection when used by women.
Researchers at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York say that the gel is the first to retain antiviral activity within the human vagina.
"There is an urgent need for the development of safe and effective vaginal microbicides," says Mount Sinai researcher Marla Keller. "While condoms offer protection against sexually transmitted infections, their effectiveness is limited because they require partner initiation or consent."
"Potent activity"
Called PRO 2000 and being developed by Indevus Pharmaceuticals, Inc. of Lexington, Massachusetts, the gel is part of a class of products aimed at preventing sexually transmitted infections when applied topically.
Funded by the US National Institutes of Health, Mount Sinai researchers examined its antiviral activity with the help of 20 HIV-infected women.
Examining vaginal fluid before and one hour after administration of PRO 2000 or a placebo, the researchers found that the gel reduced HIV and herpes simplex virus infectivity by at least 1,000-fold while the placebo had little effect.
"To our knowledge, this is the first time a candidate topical microbicide has been shown to exhibit potent antiviral activity following human administration," says Keller. "The results indicate that PRO 2000 is sufficiently bioavailable and retains substantial antiviral activity one hour after application of a single intravaginal dose. The retention of activity against both viruses is particularly significant in that HSV infection may increase the likelihood of HIV infection."
Large trials underway
Two large clinical trials now aim to assess the effectiveness of PRO 2000 in preventing HIV and other sexually transmitted infections.
One study will enroll about 3,200 women at nine sites in Africa and the US while another will include about 12,000 women in several African countries.
The research was reported in Boston at the 12th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections.
http://www.betterhumans.com/News/news.aspx?articleID=2005-02-24-3
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