Experimental Vaginal Gel Shows Promise

In a recent news release from Reuters News Service, experts are reporting the promising results of a study measuring the antiviral activity of a new vaginal microbicide gel in preventing the transmission of HIV and Herpes Simplex (HSV).

The study conducted by Dr. Betsy C. Herold and colleagues at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York recruited 20 HIV positive women and tested the activity of the vaginal gel Pro 2000. Results show that cellular HIV levels were decreased when compared to a placebo gel. The researchers found that HIV infection was inhibited by more than 99 percent in vaginal and cervical cells exposed to PRO 2000. Similar results were found when exposing herpes to the gel. Such results were proven in laboratory settings but this was the first study to show activity in human subjects.

Pro 2000 gel is one of 15 microbicides currently in clinical trials. While the results are promising, experts caution that much work needs to be done before any of these products come to market.

_{Source: "Experimental Vaginal Gel Inhibits HIV and HSV", Reuters 1/24/06}