Trials of two microbicides to be launched in Africa
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《英国医生杂志》
Large scale, phase III clinical trials of two promising HIV microbicides will begin in Africa in the second half of this year, British researchers told a conference in London this week.
A total of 12 000 women in South Africa, Zambia, Tanzania, Uganda, and Cameroon will take part in the three year studies, investigators from Imperial College London and the Medical Research Council said at the meeting, Microbicides 2004.
About 60 microbicide gels or creams are being developed at the moment, 14 of which are in the early phases of testing in humans. The aim of the approach is to reduce the risk of vaginal or anal transmission of the virus by killing or inactivating it, creating a barrier to mucosal cells or preventing the infection taking hold after it has entered the body.
Six candidate microbicides are now ready to enter phase III testing. The clinical trials announced this week will focus on two preparations being tested under Britain抯 microbicides development programme, jointly backed by the Department for International Development, the Medical Research Council, and Imperial College London.
A substantial benefit of microbicides is that they allow women to take control over an HIV prevention method, said Hilary Benn, secretary of state at the Department for International Development. "The simple application of a microbicide in the form of a cream or gel could make a huge difference to the lives of millions of poor women around the world," Mr Benn said.
The two compounds being tested are dextrin sulphate, from the UK firm ML Laboratories, and PRO-2000 gel, a synthetic naphthalene sulphonate polymer from the US company Indevus Pharmaceuticals. The trials are expected to begin in the third or fourth quarter of this year, a spokeswoman for the Medical Research Council said.
About 2.5 million new cases of HIV infection could be prevented in just three years if the microbicide was only 60% effective, research from the London School for Hygiene and Tropical Medicine showed recently (BMJ 2004;328:305). However, the field has tended to attract little funding.
"We desperately need new methods to prevent HIV transmission in the face of rising prevalence of infection globally," said Jonathan Weber, professor in genitourinary medicine and communicable diseases at Imperial College London and joint chair at the conference.
"As we have still not been able to develop an effective HIV vaccine, vaginal microbicides are now the most promising biomedical intervention for the prevention of HIV infection on the horizon."(London Stephen Pincock)
A total of 12 000 women in South Africa, Zambia, Tanzania, Uganda, and Cameroon will take part in the three year studies, investigators from Imperial College London and the Medical Research Council said at the meeting, Microbicides 2004.
About 60 microbicide gels or creams are being developed at the moment, 14 of which are in the early phases of testing in humans. The aim of the approach is to reduce the risk of vaginal or anal transmission of the virus by killing or inactivating it, creating a barrier to mucosal cells or preventing the infection taking hold after it has entered the body.
Six candidate microbicides are now ready to enter phase III testing. The clinical trials announced this week will focus on two preparations being tested under Britain抯 microbicides development programme, jointly backed by the Department for International Development, the Medical Research Council, and Imperial College London.
A substantial benefit of microbicides is that they allow women to take control over an HIV prevention method, said Hilary Benn, secretary of state at the Department for International Development. "The simple application of a microbicide in the form of a cream or gel could make a huge difference to the lives of millions of poor women around the world," Mr Benn said.
The two compounds being tested are dextrin sulphate, from the UK firm ML Laboratories, and PRO-2000 gel, a synthetic naphthalene sulphonate polymer from the US company Indevus Pharmaceuticals. The trials are expected to begin in the third or fourth quarter of this year, a spokeswoman for the Medical Research Council said.
About 2.5 million new cases of HIV infection could be prevented in just three years if the microbicide was only 60% effective, research from the London School for Hygiene and Tropical Medicine showed recently (BMJ 2004;328:305). However, the field has tended to attract little funding.
"We desperately need new methods to prevent HIV transmission in the face of rising prevalence of infection globally," said Jonathan Weber, professor in genitourinary medicine and communicable diseases at Imperial College London and joint chair at the conference.
"As we have still not been able to develop an effective HIV vaccine, vaginal microbicides are now the most promising biomedical intervention for the prevention of HIV infection on the horizon."(London Stephen Pincock)