12 April 2006 Durban, South Africa: More than 5 000 Durban women
have volunteered for the world's largest microbicides clinical
trials that will test the efficacy of the anti-HIV product
which, if successful, could prevent at least 2.5 million new
infections in the developing world over the next five years.
Microbicides are products that are applied to the vagina to
reduce HIV transmission during sexual intercourse and can take
the form of a gel, cream, suppository or sponge that contains an
active ingredient which can kill or inactivate HIV cells. Prof
Gita Ramjee, from the Medical Research Council, said that while
microbicides would help in the prevention of HIV/Aids, this
should not be seen as a magic bullet to prevent the disease. She
said individuals needed to change their behaviour and negotiate
condom use with their partners. Six clinical efficacy trials are
being conducted in Africa, India and the United States, four of
which are under way in South Africa. Ramjee said microbicides
had been formulated