Microbicide candidate battles more than HIV

I just got back from a vacation of hanging out along the coast amongst beautiful arbutus trees.  Re-entry after vacation can be a little rocky, but I’m happily jazzed about the microbicide news that came out of AIDS 2010 in Vienna. Miriam blogged about  the conference and the CAPRISA 004 trial a couple of weeks ago, but what’s really caught my eye is that this microbicide does double duty: it also prevents herpes transmission.  

To recap briefly, the study from the Centre for AIDS Programme of Research(CAPRISA) in South Africa trial has been investigating a microbicide that contains tenofovir,one of the many drugs included in HIV treatment regimes.  Results from CAPRISA 004 show it may be a serious contender. According to the press release: 

“The microbicide … was found to be 39%  effective in reducing a woman’s risk of becoming infected with HIV during sex and 51% effective in preventing genital herpes infections in the women participating in the trial."

For women who were strictly adherent (using the microbicide over 80% of the time for sexual intercourse) HIV infection risk was reduced by over fifty percent (see slide 16 of the CAPRISA presentation. Sorry I can’t link to each individual slide!). This is a huge step in the HIV prevention field. But the 51% reduction in herpes transmission is huge too.

Having other STIs can make a person more vulnerable to HIV infection. For those with HIV and herpes, infection with both can make matters much worse. If a product offers multiple benefits, all the better for the women or men who use it. While more research is needed, there is reason to be optimistic, and I’m hoping that the results of this trial will encourage further research dollars. This could be a turning point.

It would be ideal if there was a microbicides that could be used vaginally and rectally. In my dreams, it  could be used by all receptive partners, male or female, whether they’re having anal or vaginal sex (“straights” have anal sex too). And my hopes may be closer to realization now. I don’t think it’s just post-vacation energy.

- Janet 
 

This was posted on Friday, August 27th, 2010 at 9:22 am and is filed under HIV Prevention, microbicides, News, Research . Feel free to respond, or trackback. Read our comments policy.

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